Sorry for any formatting issues, on my phone.
I was the same way. In fact, when I first found out I was pregnant I was certain I was going to just formula feed from the start. But the more reading I did about breastfeeding, breastmilk and the benefits for both my baby and myself I decided I was going to give it a go. I still stocked some bottles and formula in case things didn't work out for whatever reason. I think having that stuff actually helped me push through the hardest parts of early breastfeeding, because I knew I had backup and was determined to not have to use it unless it was due to a supply issue. I was determined to push through the discomfort! A lot of the stuff you'll read will say if it hurts, you're doing it wrong. That's not always the case! First of all, your nipples aren't used to this kind of work load! Babies nurse A LOT in the early days. It can feel like you don't do much except nurse! So it can take a little bit for them to get used to this. Also, your lo can be born with a pretty small mouth, making it hard to get a deep latch. Mine had a tiny mouth! Our latch and technique were perfect, but she had a shallow latch. By week 3 we were totally on track, it became second nature to nurse her. She had grown, my boobs were used to things and it became a really enjoyable experience. I was obsessed with whether her latch was right those first 3 wks and watched about a million videos on latching, had an appt with the LC I saw during recovery and the hospital and read more stuff. I was assured our latch was great and to try to stop being so worried about everything. It's really hard not to worry! Is this right? Is she getting enough milk? Is this cluster feeding? Whyyyy do my boobs hurt?! But seriously, at 3wks something magical just clicked into place. Cluster feeding is going to suck! But it is necessary to build up your supply! Comfort nursing is real too, and your baby will need lots of comfort in the early days. Things that got me through those first few weeks:
-my husband set up a snack station on my nightstand. He had fiber one bars (trust me, you'll need them lol), fiber one+protein bars, granola bars, nutrigrain bars, pb crackers etc and every time we woke to nurse he got me fresh water. You need to stay hydrated!! And it's easy to get weak, nursing can be really draining! Having a snack nearby that you can eat with one hand is super helpful
-Water. Lots and lots of water.
-When we'd wake up in the night for feedings I'd nurse on one side, then my husband would change her diaper and hand her back to me to finish the other side. The break up would help wake her up and helped make sure I was never TOO engorged. I never had to get out of bed unless absolutely necessary, which was also a huge help.
-Philips Avent thermal gel pads I kept these in the freezer, they are big and bulky but omg they felt wonderful!! You can also warm them.
-Lansinoh Gel Soothies i kept these in the fridge for adding cooling. They were great.
-Lansinoh! Lots of it! I used it at the start and end of every session in the beginning. Let your boobs air dry a little too from time to time. My boobs were constantly out those first few weeks. My husband called this phase "sun's out, guns out!"
It's really hard not to worry or be worried about it. It's hard work! It's a lot more than I ever thought it would be. But here we are at 1yr and almost 2wks still going strong! I wouldn't change a thing. I feel blessed to have had a pretty easy time with this, and to have had a great supply all this time. I am absolutely in awe at how all of this works, and so happy that I stuck with it. You'll need support, but with a good system this can be an amazing experience. I keep saying weaning is going to be harder on me than it will be on my daughter! And always remember, if breastfeeding doesn't work out - you aren't a failure. Formula is there for a reason, it feeds babies and helps them thrive! At the end of the day, a fed baby is the way to go. If breastfeeding is not working, then switch and don't let anyone try to make you feel guilty about it. It's none of their business anyways how you feed your baby. All that matters is your health and happiness and your baby's health and happiness. Best of luck!!!

I get all my fleece from JoAnn stores. They often have fleece at 50% off per yard, so you can buy it in bulk and use it as needed. Any large fabric store will have lots of fleece in stock (I just prefer JoAnn because that's the best one I have in the area I live in). I'm sure you know this already, but just in case, please don't use cedar or pine chips as bedding for your rats; it's harmful to them. You can use fleece or aspen chip bedding (but freeze the aspen for 48 hours prior to use to make sure it's free of parasites).

I buy many rat toys on Amazon, and make some myself. If you're buying any kind of wooden rat toy, do be aware that many of them are made from soft woods like pine and cedar, which are super bad for rat respiratory systems. Hardwood toys are usually safe—just make sure it's not a combination wood that also has pine or cedar in it along with the hardwood. I personally do not buy wood toys on amazon, because the products often don't list what kind of wood they're made of. The only wood product I buy on Amazon is bags of untreated apple branch chewing sticks. I'll link you to some rat-safe toys and accessories I buy on amazon below! :)

Kaytee Lava Ledge
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00176F466/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s03?ie=UTF8&psc=1

15" Chin Spin - Small Animal Exercise Wheel - Handmade in USA (Expensive, but it's the very best and safest wheel for rats.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GJ6SDBQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Bright Starts Lots of Links Accessory Toy (Great for hanging things up in the cage.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001ABZGU2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&th=1

Small Animal Activity Toy Cotton Rope Net For Rat and Ferret Pet Bed for Parrot and Hamster Parrot
https://www.amazon.com/Animal-Activity-Cotton-Ferret-Hamster/dp/B0777NWKT9/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1519011945&sr=1-2&keywords=rat+rope+net

Kaytee Igloo Hideout, Large
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00068K132/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

ACCO Binder Clips, Medium, 2 Boxes, 12/Box (A7072050) (If using fleece as the bedding/liner in your cage, this helps to secure fleece to the Critter Nation pans.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TQ8FDB8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Dr. Bronner's Pure-Castile Liquid Soap - Baby Unscented, 32oz. (I don't use any scented products with my rats since rat respiratory systems are so fragile, so this is the non-scented liquid soap I use to wash my hands and their non-fabric toys.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DAI76TC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Pawliss Teeth Grinding Lava Block for Hamster Chinchilla Rabbit
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HGHA6VW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Aspen/Booda Corporation BBX56134 Byrdy Cable Cross Bird Toy, Medium
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003WRHTG6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

200g(7oz) Apple Sticks Pet Snacks Chew Toys for Guinea Pigs Chinchilla Squirrel Rabbits Hamster(About 50-70 Sticks) by MAIYUAN (The only wood product I buy on Amazon.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06WLL641Y/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Ware Manufacturing Fun Tunnels Play Tube for Small Pets (Medium.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001LUMU9M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Ware Manufacturing Plastic Scatterless Lock-N-Litter Small Pet Pan- Colors May Vary (Regular size, not jumbo.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003SLICDA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

JW Comfy Perch for Birds (Large, 36".)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002AR754/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Lixit Critter Space Pod 2 Large (You can hand these on the ceiling of the Critter Nation. My boys LOVE these!)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002X2NBNQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Lixit Lbg-16 Glass Small Animal Bottle 16 Oz (16oz is always best for rats because of the bigger water spout. I've found that smaller bottles are a struggle for my boys to get water out of, so I only use the small ones for rat carriers/transporter cages. Tip: filtered water is best for rats, so if you can, get a Britta water filter.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002WYCFK0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Yummy Time Tiny Small Stoneware Pet/Dog Bowl
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NAUMYDC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I buy Harlan Teklad (Envigo) food blocks for my rats, which is one of the top two for rats (the other is Oxbow Regal Rat). Harland Teklad is hard to find though, so I buy mine through this animal rescue:
http://weecompanions.org/healthy-food

If you get these blocks, freeze them to extend their shelf life, and take them out from the freezer as needed to fill your ratties' bowls. Harlan Teklad is great because they have several formulas for rats based on their age, which is super helpful for their health. Young rats up to 8 months usually eat Harlan Teklad 2016 (16% protein), and after 8 months they eat Harlan Teklad 2014 (14% protein).

Also, I don't have a link for this, but the best laundry detergents to use to wash your rats' cloth toys or bedding with is one that's non-scented and is sensitive on skins.

Um, if I think of anything else, I'll add it. But for now, it's already a ton. :P Enjoy!

(And feel free to message me if you have any questions!)

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!).

So, now that I've had coffee....

Good morning. I hope you're feeling a little bit better.

With your daughter - at about 2.5, my boys both started to protest naps. My solution was to stop calling it nap time. I let them pick 1 book and 1 quiet toy from the playroom and take them to the bedroom (normally, no toys in bedroom). Then they had "quiet time." I usually told them it was only for a half hour, but tbh, I lied. 95% of the time, they fell asleep within 10 minutes, and slept for their full nap. The other 5%, they'd play quietly for an hour or so. I put one of these locks on the door, which keeps it open a crack. Note that at first, they came to the crack every 5 minutes to ask if they could come out yet - I had to be super consistent that "no, the timer hasn't gone off (because I didn't set it), they had to play quietly until the timer said that quiet time was over."

As to the no breaks / burned out. Like I said, I've been there. Military life is hard on families, and transitioning out isn't much better. Some things to keep in mind:

1. Just because it's your job doesn't mean you don't get breaks. My husband works in an office. That doesn't mean he works 24-7-365. He gets evenings off, weekends, he gets vacation days and sick days. So, I too deserve time off, sick days, vacation days, etc. I don't get a lot, but I do get some. I find it easier to schedule it in advance, so here's what my husband and I worked out (and by worked out, I mean I informed him of what I needed, and let him pick the day): I get a babysitter to watch the kids from 1-4 on Tuesday. This is when I usually go to therapy, but it's also my time to do whatever I want. He is on kid duty Thursday evening. Dinner, bath, bedtime, the whole thing - from the moment he gets home, I'm "off the clock." I usually go hide in our bathroom and take a bath with a book, but if they're being particularly loud or if the baby is crying, I leave the house. On weekends, each one of us gets one morning off. So Saturday is his day to get up when they get up and get their damn cereal, while I get to linger in bed. Sunday is his day, and I get up with the kids.
   One afternoon, one evening, and one morning to "sleep in" till 8. It's not a lot, objectively, but it makes a huge difference.
   
   
2. Reconsider the religious preschools. Even when they have "chapel" the messages are usually just basic bible stories that (imho) everyone, whether religious or atheist, should know. Things like Noah, that get referenced in popular literature. If they do push a message, it's things like "God loves you" or "God wants us to be nice to our friends." Sending your kid to preschool is NOT getting someone else to do your work for you, it's giving yourself a desperately needed break so that you're a better mom the other 99% of the time, and it's exposing your daughter to all kinds of things that you can't teach her at home, like listening to adults other than you, socializing with her peers, taking turns and sharing, etc.
   If you still decide that's not for you, look into a YMCA membership. You can probably get a military discount if either one of you still has your ID. Some advantages: great beginning swim lessons for your daughter, workouts for you (once you start to feel better), and best yet - 2 hours per day of child care included with your membership. Your daughter gets to practice all those social skills and play with new toys... you get to drink a cup of coffee and browse reddit in peace (or, I suppose, time to workout, but I always just read).
   
   
3. Most of the military men I know do better with specifics. That's why my list of "time off" was so carefully written out - instead of just saying "I need a break" I said "I need one afternoon, one evening, and one morning each week." We took the same tactic with our relationship. If you think of your relationship like a bank account, military life has a way of making tons of withdrawals (tdy, pcs) plus life in general (career change, childbirth, your BiL's death)... your relationship account sounds like it's running low. So we came up with a list of things that make deposits, again being very specific. Our list looks like this:
   
   

• sex twice a week
  
  
• date night once a month (even if it's just microwave popcorn and netflix)
  
  
• family outing once a month (park, zoo, pool, fly a kite in the backyard, pet puppies at the humane society, whatever)
  
  
• something special on mother/father's day, birthdays, valentine's day, anniversary, and christmas. Doesn't have to be expensive, could be coffee in bed or look I made your favorite dinner.
  
  
• one hour of family play time once a week. For us, it's board games, but with younger kids it could be build a pillow fort or play dress up. Just as long as both parents and the kids are all playing together.
  
  Our list has 8-10 items on it, but that gives you an idea. We've been doing it for 2 months now, and honestly, it's starting to help. We're feeling more connected and closer, and I feel like he's actually getting to re-know me, and get to know our kids for the first time. Our kids are getting more comfortable with him too.
  

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!!

We work very closely with a dietitian for our 13 month old son (he was a preemie and has a lot of issues with eating/textures of food/swallowing/etc). We also work with a Speech Therapist and several special doctors. Not ONCE have any of them ever said that we should force food on our child or continue to push things he doesn't like and refuses to eat. This promotes anxiety and fears about eating that are unnecessary. I am by all means NOT a professional, but I have been working with them for over a year. Here are my suggestions:

1. Always OFFER the food you want your daughter to eat. Offer it several times before giving up on it (not in one day....over the course of a week or two). Sometimes babies just don't like certain foods. We are adults and have willpower. We understand that even if broccoli doesn't taste as good as corndogs, it is the better choice. Obviously babies and young children can't reason like that. Try preparing it different ways. We found out that our son LOVES avocado if it has a little bit of pure sugar mixed in (like 1/2 tsp per one whole mashed avocado).
   
   
2. Let her eat it off of your plate. This has been a BIG trick for our son and has helped a lot. If he won't eat it, we put some on our plate and then all of the sudden he wants it.
   
   
3. Let her PLAY with her food. Offer foods during non meal times. Let her explore them. If she wants to roll an apple like a ball let her! Make art with the food. Let her finger paint with pudding, yogurt, fruit juice mixed with a bit of corn starch. Yes, it is messy, but it makes snack time fine and stress free for her. Let her pull apart broccoli, celery, and other veggies and explore them. She might just stick one in her mouth! it doesn't mean she will love it, but at least she can taste different things. Food art is a very good tool for picky eaters. When you put food on her plate, make designs. Make flowers out of berries and leafy greens, draw faces on fruits and veggies with dipping sauces, etc.
   
   
4. Try to use things like V-8 or home-made veggie and fruit juices (watered down juice or smoothies made with yogurt, fruits, and veggies) to get in those nutrients she needs. You can even add broccoli and spinach and she won't taste it.
   
   
5. Take her to a local farm where you can pick your own fruits and veggies and let her help! Or take her to the produce section of store and let her help pick things if there isn't a local farm.
   
   
6. Try different temperatures i.e. frozen peaches, bananas, or berries (in a mesh baby feeder like this one to prevent choking issues: http://www.amazon.com/Munchkin-Pack-Fresh-Feeder-Colors/dp/B000GK5XY2 which are especially good for teething time!) then try warm peach or berry compote (this recipe is good but I don't I use less brown sugar or none at all and it is still good because of the juice and obviously I don't use brandy! http://www.recipekey.com/therecipes/Peach-Compote) and room temperature diced peaches or bananas.
   
   Our pedi and dietitian told us that babies go through phases. If you can sneak in the fruits and veggies that is best, but sometimes you just can't and you do the best you can and just offer them at every meal.
   
   Don't make meal times stressful. If you are stressed about what she is or isn't going to eat, she will be too!
   
   My only disclaimer is that if you are very concerned talk to your pediatrician. She may be able to recommend something else or refer you to a nutritionist. All that we have been told indicates that At this age it isn't a HUGE deal what babies eat as long as they are growing at a good rate (not too slow, not too fast) mostly because they will never overeat.
   
   One final note: Be very careful with hot dogs as they are a top contender for choking hazards. if you don't already please consider removing the skins and cutting each hot dog slice into quarters.
   
   If you have any more questions or would like to talk to me, please feel free to send me a message. Good luck and don't worry too much. It is obvious you are great parents because you took the time to ask!

I have two little boys myself. One thing that nobody really ever thinks to do is a mom gift. I had it happen at mine, but wasn't anything extravagent, just a few inexpensive things I liked and it was nice! But if you can, maybe a gift card for a day of pampering and an offer to watch the baby while she does it after baby is born, or even before she's born. I know some places offer mommy/baby massages for pregnant woman. Or even just a foot massage with a pedicure would be great. I LOVED getting pedi's while pregnant.

Some things I think are really useful are: (links for example)

Pacifier clips (My boys always dropped paci's or threw them) http://www.amazon.com/Booginhead-PaciGrip-Pacifier-Holder-Pinstripe/dp/B004323NIC

Fresh food feeders. Didnt know about these till my second baby and he LOVED this. You can put fruit, veggies, etc in it and it makes it so they can suck the juices out without worrying about them choking on large chunks. (http://www.amazon.com/Munchkin-Pack-Fresh-Feeder-Colors/dp/B000GK5XY2)

Bumbo seat. Really nice to just set the baby down to get things done and give them some toys to keep them occupied, or a snack if they're old enough to self feed. http://www.amazon.com/Bumbo-Floor-Seat-Play-Tray/dp/B00FBEO588/ref=pd_cp_ba_0

SOCKS and JEANS!! Nobody ever really bought me any for my shower and I never see anyone buy them at any showers and you can never have enough of either. Jeans go with everything and people always buy lots of shirts/onesies for babies.

If you buy clothes, make sure you take into consideration the due date and the month they will be wearing that size. Lots of people don't think about that, so you might get something thats for summer in a certain size, but wont fit them till winter. I had that happen a lot.

Gift cards are nice to get too because if they get a bunch of things at their shower that they need, but still need other things, they can go what they want. Or even just gift cards for diapers, wipes, etc.

Boppy Pillow. If she's breastfeeding it will be nice to have for supporting the baby so her arms dont get tired. Even if she isn't breastfeeding it is nice for just holding baby. http://www.amazon.com/Boppy-Pillow-Slipcover-Lots-Dots/dp/B001GIOPH4/ref=sr_1_2?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1394054156&sr=1-2&keywords=boppy+pillow


The old, plain white cloth diapers. They come in like packs of ten and are inexpensive and work AMAZING as burp clothes because they're thick. My second son had a problem with spitting up a lot and they were so awesome to have! These ones on the link say vintage, but I have bought some just like these in the store. http://www.ebay.com/itm/8-Vintage-Prefolded-Cloth-Cotton-Baby-Diapers-13-x17-Pre-owned-fair-good-cond-/261414793585

Thats all I can think of for right now, hope it helps!! :D

• Baby-proof the shit out of your house. Every cabinet, every stair, every plug. That way you can relax on the couch and your little crawler, walker cannot get into any trouble. We have 4 gates in my house. My kid could try with all her might to kill herself, but she wouldn't be successful.
  
• Your baby won't remember this time. That's a good thing. Don't beat yourself up about what you're not doing. What you are doing is giving him a forever buddy. They will be closer than close, and thicker than thieves. You haven't messed anything up.
  
• Invest in a baby jail.
  
  
  
• Have family come later--we had support in weeks 2-6 this time, and the emphasis was wearing out the toddler, and letting me sleep with and nurse the baby.
  
• If you can do it: have another wave of support set up for the 4 month sleep regression. It feels so much worse with 2.
  
• You'll be able to get them napping at the same time--don't worry about that. The first month, the baby will sleep anywhere and everywhere.
  
• Get your older baby used to hand washing, as soon as you can. My second born was sick a lot b/c she was born in December, during the worst flu season on record. We avoided the flu, but she got cold after cold from her sister. Persistent hand washing, and keeping the oldest's fingernails short helped.
  
• Your second baby will be better at putting him/herself to sleep... pretty much out of necessity. I'm able to put down my baby and walk out of the room (unheard of with my first!), because I have to tend to my toddler.
  
• Teach your oldest sign language. He will be right in the middle of trying to speak and not being able to yet. Sign language will help you communicate without a lot of frustration. Pick up "baby signs" to start, and then add on books as he masters the first signs (it took until my daughter was a year to really get the baby signs down. By 14 months, she had a sign language vocabulary explosion, and could ask for water, juice, to go in her stroller, to sleep, bathe, and for lots of different types of food. It helped us avoid many breakdowns and tantrums.
  
  The bad:
  
  
• Your partner and you will be like passing ships in the night for a while. Two babies: two parents, two baths, two bedtimes... you'll both have your hands full. Try your best to connect with a hug each day.
  
• There were many days where showering wasn't possible due to one baby or another needing me. I've had to jump in with my toddler a couple of times--once to her extreme emotional dismay, and another she didn't mind since we used mama's bathtub (the SPECIAL bathtub).
  
• Pregnancy is harder. Your body is looser. You'll feel the aches and pains earlier, The nausea is more intense. You won't feel connected like you did with your first because you'll be so busy with your first.
  
  The good:
  
  
• Birth is much better. Dreamier, even. I had a hard first birth, a very long labor, and was too sore to walk without pain for 6 weeks. The second birth was gentle, quick, and I was walking without any pain days after birth.
  
• You will be so confident this time around. You'll know what works, what works for you, what works for your family.
  
• You'll already be in the shit, so it won't feel like going backwards. And when you're out, you will be out (if you want to be).
  
• Your oldest will love being big brother, and he will love his sibling. Being a big boy helper is so exciting! Pushing a stroller is fun! Showing baby how to do things is thrilling! Soon you will be able to sit back, in your baby proofed home, and watch your similarly-aged children entertain each other like magic.
  
  You can do it. It will be hard. Very hard, but then suddenly, it won't be. And you won't even remember what life was even like with a family of three, because your children will love and need each other. It will be like you've been waiting for this child, and life is unimaginable without them--it happens so fast, and it is so worth it.
  
  Good luck!
  
  And now that I have a 3 year old and 18 month old:
  
  
• Your second kid will make you feel like you don't know WTF you're doing sometimes. You will learn. Be gentle on yourself.
  
• Miralaax for constipation saved my life with my second kiddo. It is non-stimulating, and was suggested by our pedi around month 8. If your kiddo is having trouble pooping (esp if formula fed), this is a very helpful option to ask your pedi about.
  
• Two small kids in the bath--woo that was dangerous for a minute. There are some sit-me-up baths that will help facilitate a safer bath with two for your little one. I found a mom who had this bath seat from germany. If you order it new, be aware it will take a while to get to the US. It wasn't a perfect solution, but it definitely helped!
  
• I had PPD/PPA(gression), and it took me until almost a year after having my second baby to get on medication. I was in heavy denial, even in counseling, thinking that the meds would change me in some fundamental way. THEY DO NOT. They help you shake off that terrible voice in your head (mine sounds like my mother) telling me that I'm not doing a good enough job. If you are feeling like a total failure, are angry at the whole world--that's also postpartum depression, but it's expressing itself in anger. Please, please, don't suffer. Zoloft has saved my last pregnancy from being a complete torture. I'm looking forward to seeing how post partum is without the depression!
  
• My kids start sleeping through the night around a year old. So that's how long it took for me to feel like "we made it" through the hard part. Naturally, I got pregnant around 10 months PP.

Diapers and wipes are always good -- newborn or preemie size probably. That said, some diapers just don't fit great on some kids, and some kids will have more sensitivity to certain wipes, so it's hard to say exactly which type/brand to get. "Water wipes" (https://www.amazon.com/WaterWipes-Sensitive-Wipes-Count-Packs/dp/B008KJEYLO) are a really good sensitive wipe. I wouldn't necessarily send her too many/any bigger diapers yet. They'll just take up room and might be a brand that doesn't work great. A box or two of the next size up is enough for now.

A good diaper cream will probably also be needed. I'd recommend something somewhat "natural" like https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000P16ZXK/, again to help reduce sensitivity hopefully. I would avoid petroleum jelly based ones.

Some type of burp cloths. However diaper cloths (I can't remember if that's what they are called) work great. I can't speak for this brand but something like this.. https://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Birdseye-3-Ply-Prefold-Diapers/dp/B007VBYVWE. They are usually like a light linen/muslin, and usually fairly large square, and plain. They're easy to clean and big enough to fold over if part gets dirty, etc, and multi-use.


I would also avoid too many clothes. Some onesies with zippers is probably all that's really needed. Maybe also a nice soft hat as well, and some muslin swaddle wraps. Additionally, a warm, soft blanket or something to cover them when they go out. They're not supposed to wear anything bulky between the child and the carseat harness (ofc, they'll need a carseat if they don't already have one -- most hospitals won't release babies without one though, especially from the nicu).

Pacifiers are good too. Kids will probably find a certain kind they prefer, but I think this is basically what hospitals almost always use https://www.amazon.com/Philips-SCF190-01-Soothie-0-3mth/dp/B0045I6IAO.



They may also be recommended a vitamin like poly-vi-sol, or possibly other things, but this is hard to buy without being able to talk to her to find out exactly what is prescribed.

Similarly, bottles, nipples, and/or breastfeeding equipment, but this is hard to buy without knowing what she and the kid prefer. However, hand sanitizer for after diaper changes, and a nice bottle brush (https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Browns-Bottle-Brush-Blue/dp/B000N0SNHY/ or https://www.amazon.com/Sponge-Bottle-Brush-Pack-Blue/dp/B07DQQFP63/) are great to have.

Some type of food/meal delivery would be awesome. Possibly even a local housecleaning or laundry service too, depending on how independent she is.

And ultimately, money can help, as well as your phone number or contact info and an openness for contact and support.

There might be more that I can't think of. At this stage it's probably as important to get things to help her directly as for the baby. She may also have some medical needs depending on how the delivery went, and all that. Feel free to pm me too with any more questions etc.

Here's a list of items I found so useful for myself that I use as my go-to gift options for anyone I know having a baby.

1. Rectal thermometer Not only is this the fastest and most accurate way to check an infant's temperature, but it really helps with constipation. Around 8 weeks, breastfed babies may start to poop only once a week. My kid would get so uncomfortable, but he was too young to have juice or pureed fruit. My doctor recommended a rectal thermometer with Vaseline to stimulate a BM. Works like a charm!
   
   
2. Lots Of Links These are great for attaching toys to the carseat, stroller, and highchair. They're also thin and light, so they're great for really small infants to practice grasping and passing objects from hand to hand.
   
   
3. Coat Hangers - Since everyone insists on loading up your baby with clothes, you need somewhere to put them all. I used all 80 hangers I had - and that's with a boy!
   
   
4. Breastfeeding supplies - No one likes to buy this stuff, but if it's for a close friend or you know they're going to breastfeed, definitely get her some nursing pads (helpful even if she doesn't breastfeed and sometimes even before the baby is born) and lanolin If she is going to use a Medela pump, these membranes will come in handy. I also liked these wipes for cleaning any breastpump where there may not be a sink and these bags for sanitizing pump parts, bottles, paci's, etc.
   
   
5. While this probably won't be used for a while, this play yard is one of my favorite baby purchases ever. It came in handy especially during those 7-12 months where my kid was crawling and learning to walk. It kept him contained and also gave him a safe place to practice walking. My son is 16 months old and we still use this all the time.
   
   
6. No one did this for me, but I wish people had bought me a small package of their favorite generic/store brand diapers. No one wants to look cheap by buying off brand diapers, but in reality, you'll probably end up using them. Huggies or Pampers can run about $0.35 per diaper. It's great when you're getting gifts, but I'd like a chance to experiment with something lower cost without having to buy 15 brands. Target's Up & Up brand work great for me, and they're only around $0.15 a diaper. But babies are all shaped different, so what works for one kid might not work so great for another. You just have to try them out. It'd be nice to get some different brands as gifts.

I had similar concerns before my son was born 3.5 months ago. It seemed like everyone had trouble, so I was fully prepared for a miserable experience and was mentally steeling myself to power through for the sake of my baby. And then... it was super easy. No real latch issues. Minimal pain. No supply issues. Used a bottle day 2 and pacifier at week 2 without any nipple confusion. When needed, we used formula here and there without any problems. It's pleasant and sweet for me to nurse him and it's been a wonderful bonding experience! I was lucky, but I also think people with good experiences don't tend to comment online about them as much, so maybe they're underrepresented.

I will say that if it's in the budget, stocking up on some supplies, including just-in-case supplies, was helpful. It's great to have them on hand the second you need them - I'm not sure I would have thought to go out and buy them in the moment otherwise - and also provides some peace of mind before the baby comes knowing that you're prepared.

For me these included:
Earth Mama Angel Baby Nipple Butter - use early and often!
Hydrogel pads - Ameda, Lanisoh and Medela all make them; they are reusable over a 72 hour period or so and they feel AMAZING, especially when refrigerated first (I used and liked the Lanisoh; I snagged a bunch when the price dipped to ~$3). Don't wait till it gets bad to use these!
Lanisoh heating/cooling pads - cooling is soothing and especially nice when you're milk comes in; heat is good for encouraging let down and helping with any clogged ducts
Medella SoftShells - The least essential of the bunch, but a nice-to-have if you want to slather on nipple butter but not stain your nursing bras/tanks or just want to allow some more airflow. Worked great for me but possibly not for everyone's anatomy?

As I'm writing this I remembered many of these recommendations came from this excellent (and now recently updated) Lucie's List article on breastfeeding prep.

You can't predict how this stuff will go but for as much as there is to worry about, there's also a lot to look forward to with nursing. Good luck!

FTM here... I got this one:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ECHYTBI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I originally bought a different one (a WiFi/phone app one), but it was pretty laggy on my phone (which is a pretty good phone & we have pretty good WiFi). DH & I decided to just return it & try another one (the one above). We haven't 'officially' tried it out yet (I'll be 34 weeks tomorrow), but we've played around with it & tried it out a bit for ourselves. In short, the picture is pretty good, the sound is very good, and the parent unit/monitor is very responsive. It's VERY highly rated on Amazon. I know it's early to tell, but I think we're going to be very happy with it. It is a little pricey (around $167 on Amazon), but I still think it's worth the money.

If you're not sure, I just Googled things like 'best baby monitor 2017' or 'best video baby monitor' (depending on the kind you want), and some websites provide very helpful reviews of different monitors (pros & cons, etc).

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 am 34 weeks on my second and my first is 2.5 years old.

Not only am I like "meh" to doing all the insane baby stuff - but we are moving in November (with a three month old - lort help us).
And because of that, I can't really have a ton of stuff around because we are packing up and trying to stage our house.

My essential list:

• Bassinet that I don't hate (first time around I had a stand alone wooden one that was bulky, hard to move, and creaked). This time I have my BFF's hand me down Arms Reach Co-sleeper (it essentially attaches to your bed to extend the bed and/or functions like a bassinet.
  
• Changing table/space - seriously, you need a legit, doesn't break your back location for changing diapers that you don't have to move around and don't care if some poop or pee gets on it. Doesn't have to be fancy, just a space dedicated to that function.
  
• Breast Feeding pillow (if you go this route) - as the other mom said, boppy's are cumbersome and slide around. My Brest Friend is worth every stinking penny. You can even stand up and walk around with this thing clipped on while you grab something really quick and are still feeding off the boob.
  
• Boppy Newborn lounger - it's like a little donut to sit your baby in. The baby is generally pretty happy in it, you can have your hands and some independence.
  
• Pack n Play - usually set up in my living room with the Boppy Lounger in it (at highest level the mattress will go) as a nice safe space to set your turdlet down (that isn't in your bedroom/their room). Plus when you travel or something, it's your crib.
  
• Baby Swing - My son LOVED his - it was a life saver, hoping our daughter will be the same. I have the Graco Simple Sway - used it for my son - hoping the motor holds out (I've read reviews that the motor dies eventually) - but I'll use it til it dies - worth every penny.
  
• Baby Shusher - Uhh seriously, this thing is fcking magic to a infant. Screaming at 3 am? Turn this puppy on and they chill out immediately (unless there is something seriously wrong, I suppose). It saves you from having to do it with your mouth (sooo tiring) and is far more effective than a white noise machine.
  
• White Noise Machine - this is a personal preference, but an essential for me. I have the 'LectroFan (it's non mechanical like the Marpac Dohm - so it never gets a wonky rattle to it). Helps the baby sleep and can block out day to day noises to help with startling awake.
  
• Nipple shields (if you breastfeed) - makes the first few weeks of breastfeeding a relative "cake walk" compared to trying to get the perfect latch. A lot of lactation consultants will poo poo this and say it makes it harder for baby to get used to it. Whatever. I used it for 6 weeks with my son - saved me pain, made it easier for him to latch and eat, and he eventually self weaned off of them (I would always try first without them and eventually it just was fine as he got older and more experienced). Who cares if the kid uses them the ENTIRE TIME? so long as they are fed.
  
• Haakaa Manual Breast Pump (again, if boobfed) - I hate pumping. Hate. Especially middle of the night, half asleep, kid only takes one boob. The Haakaa uses suction and gently (and quietly) draws from your other breast. You can also use it to take the edge off if you are out of the house for longer than the requisite two hours your LO allows you to go without being milked.
  
  Outside of those items - it's just the standard clothes, diapers, bottles, baby monitors, etc.
  
  Let me know if you have any questions.
  And yes - the amnesia is real.

I wanted to reply to your comment last week about breastfeeding stuff, but was too bogged down in our own stuff here. :-)

Tongue-tie, injured nipples, delayed + low supply, pumping 7-8x a day to increase/maintain supply...that was me for the first 8-ish weeks. Tongue-tie was revised at 4 weeks, and we finally got to (mostly) EBF at 8 weeks. (Which was great--so much easier, until reflux set in!)

A few thoughts:

• our LC told me that if your nipples are so injured you can't rub them with a towel and be okay, then you should EP for a couple days until they've healed.
  
• a "burning" sensation in the nipples is sometimes due to a yeast infection. Especially if it's persistent and not just during nursing. Sometimes the baby has symptoms too (thrush, diaper rash), sometimes not. You can contact your OB, or your LC about getting checked. They might tell you to try something OTC, or prescribe an antifungal.
  
• Soothies help some women get through the nipple pain of the early weeks. They're a little pricey for something that's essentially disposable. But I treated myself to a couple packs and saved them for when I really needed them. (There's also reusable versions you can put in the fridge, but those are harder to find.)
  
• after 3 weeks, I ended up renting a hospital grade pump for those 7-8x/day pumping sessions. More comfortable on the nipples and more efficient. Less expensive than formula (~$25/week + flange kit). But also not strictly necessary if money is tight.
  
• babies get better at latching as they get older--combination of bigger mouths and better coordination
  
• your area might have free breastfeeding support groups and/or group lactation consultations that might be helpful. In my area, they're affiliated with the hospitals with maternity wards, or with centers that do e.g. childbirth classes and related stuff.
  
  There were a lot of tears at the beginning of our breastfeeding journey, too. I had to set a lot of microgoals. Breastfeeding once a day without injury. Then twice a day. Making it to two weeks, then one month, then another month. If I thought about trying to go six months or a year, it felt impossible, so I just kept my goals short-term and told myself that at each step, I was free to re-evaluate.
  
  Now we're at 6 months! And honestly, because my daughter developed reflux after all the other stuff, most of those months have been hard won. My goal now is to keep going until her reflux improves. (Formula can make reflux worse.) If improvements in breastfeeding follow, we might continue longer. If not, then that might be the time to transition to formula, 'cause I can't imagine triple-feeding for another 6 months!
  
  Congratulations on the new job! Hope your (soon to be former) boss isn't an ass to your husband when he finds out you're leaving. On the subject of glassblowing, I saw this post about a memorial marble for someone who died and it reminded me of you--the glassblower among us, and all the conversations at /r/ttcafterloss about how we remember our little ones. <3

Since I just bought a bunch of stuff off of amazon for baby #2 today I can go over some things I found useful.

Bouncer: I didn't have one with my son, but wished I would have. I had bought two different types of fancy swings, and my son hated them (plus they are big and bulky). But a bouncer would have worked great because it is nice and portable, so things like showers would have been so much easier.

A Moby or a Mei Tai wrap: I loved these with my son. They were perfect for grocery shopping so I didn't have to lug around a giant car seat that takes up a whole shopping cart (PSA never put an infant carrier in the infant seat of a shopping cart). Plus it kept all the strangers grubby hands off my baby. It amazed me the amount of people who would just walk up and touch my sons face when he was in his car seat.

Lots of footie PJs: They are so much easier to deal with till they are about 3 months.

Night gowns for babies: Like these are awesome for nighttime. the bottom part is open so no need unbuttoning or unzipping and waking baby up even more.


Burp clothes (gerber cloth diapers): Like These. Don't waist your money on the cutesy burp clothes in stores. They are thin and horrible material. Plus they barely cover your shoulder. These are what the hospital used as burp cloths and they worked so great! They are super thick and huge (covers your whole shoulder). My son had bad acid reflux so there was a lot of spit up.

Receiving blankets I didn't use them for swaddling (my son hated to be swaddled) But they work great when used on top of a changing table cover, or on a couch/bed. They save you from having to wash the changing table cover a zillion times. And are a great to throw in the diaper bag for an outing to use on changing tables.

Boppy: I used my boppy so much! They are great for breastfeeding, but also for laying baby down for tummy time.

These were just some things that helped me. Hopefully some of it you find helpful =)

In no particular order:

1. Snuza Hero (SE). Was $120 when I bought it, looks like it's gone down to $100. Really helped me sleep soundly knowing we'd be alerted if anything stopped baby's breathing. We had a few false alarms where it simply became detached from her diaper, so it definitely works.
   
2. 7 A.M. Enfant Nido. So, this was not actually a splurge at all because I somehow lucked out and found it on clearance for $18, but I would happily pay full price ($60) knowing how well it worked for us. It is designed to be safe to use in the car seat (nothing touches the straps at all). My daughter was toasty warm all winter long. We live in Michigan and get a lot of snow. This product was invaluable for me.
   
3. Solly Baby Wrap. ($65) There are cheaper wrap carriers out there. This one was the best I tried. I loved this product so much. I'm actually going to have a hard time not buying a second one in another color 😂
   
4. Uppababy Vista Stroller. ($930) We had another (cheaper) stroller at first, but I ended up selling it and buying this one before my baby turned one. I wish we'd just gone with this from the get-go. The ride is incredibly smooth and the quality is amazing.
   
5. Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Monitor. ($165) I actually thought we could get away with no baby monitor at all because our house is so small. It's true, it's not a *necessity*, but when we went to visit my MIL and she had purchased a monitor to use at her house while we were there (for 3 weeks). It was so nice having it that I purchased this one as soon as we got home. I didn't realize how much freedom it allows you (I can go have tea on the back porch, or do a bit of gardening, or go run on the treadmill downstairs, all without worrying that I won't hear the baby waking up) until I lived with one first hand. We survived just fine for over a year without one, but I could have been so much more productive with it. This time around, I'm getting an add on camera for this unit to put in our room (where new baby will sleep). The original camera will stay in my toddler's room.

I love this list, I kept thinking "ditto!" with almost everything you wrote! Because I can't help myself, here is some of my feedback on some of those products:

For boob cream- I loooove the Motherlove Nipple Cream. The Earth Mama Angel Baby one was really grainy to me, and I'm not a big fan of the cocoa butter smell (to each their own!). The Motherlove cream saved my nipples those first few weeks and I still use it after a long pumping session.

Leak management- gurl I feel you on being leaky! I am SO leaky. I love the nighttime Bamboobies, they're the only ones that work for me (and I have to switch them out three times a day). The downside is they're pretty obvious through clothing, so when I have to go out of the house I'll pop a disposable lansinoh one in there instead. But Bamboobies all the way!

Leak Collection!- Yes! The Milkies Milksaver I have has been great at catching the ~1oz I leak from the non-nursing side. Now that Miss V and I have more of a breastfeeding pattern that involves her only eating from one side per session I'm going to try out a Haakaa Silicone Pump to see if the suction will draw out even more ounces from the neglected boob.

Extra Pump Parts- NeneSupply on Amazon is a Spectra pumping girl's best friend, especially for hard-ish to find and expensive spare Spectra parts.

Nursing Bras- They're expensive but I'm a total Bravado fanatic. I'm a big girl and they carry a wide variety of sizes, even for the much bigger bust sizes. And they recently released this hands free pumping attachment that, the few times I've experimented with it, was freaking awesome. I hope it continues to be awesome when I go back to work!

Edit:
Oh! I forgot one of my favorite pumping accessories! The Pumpin' Pals Super Shields have made a difference in my output but are also a thousand times more comfortable that regular flanges. Plus you can recline while pumping without spilling breastmilk everywhere! I was gifted these by a friend at my shower and I was skeptical about them living up to the Amazon reviews hype but I am definitely happy to have them.

Congratulations.

Though I'm not a parent myself, I work for a high end newborn photographer so I'll just give you tips on my observations.

• Swaddle tight with stretchy materials and hold the arms down to the sides when swaddling
  
  
• if mom is nursing, stay away from gassy vegetables and acidic foods as well. From our experience when the mom eats these things the baby is miserable the next day because of gas. We basically just recommend a boring bland diet. Only for the first few weeks though. After the first 3 or 4 weeks and then its usually ok. Every baby will be different so your mileage may vary. But from our experience 99% of the time we have cranky crying babies for the whole session is because mom had like spicy food or something else. Rule of thumb for us basically if the food has the potential to make your stomach uncomfortable sometimes then it might make baby uncomfortable as well
  
  
• Get a yoga ball. trying to sooth baby, hold baby with head to your heart, sit on ball and start bouncing gently. Get yoga socks too if you have slippery floors.
  
  
• diaper rash. Use huggies or honest brand. 9 out of 10 babies that come in with a rash are using pampers. Kirkland brand wipes from costco are great too. Our studio is stocked with huge packs of them.
  
  
• Formulas. I'm not sure on the brands for this but don't go out buying huge amounts right away because some babies might not like them very much. Might make them gassy too so you may have to try a few brands before you land on the one that is right. There are also ones for sensitive stomachs ( more expensive though)
  
  
• get a baby shusher or white noise, either this or this one, we use both in our studio.
  
  
• get chux from amazon (basically look like puppy pads but are not scented or no chemicals) you'll probably seem them at the hospital. use them on your changing table, keep a few in your car. everywhere really so that where ever you are you can change baby an hopefully avoid soiling a bed/car/couch etc.
  
• newborn size clothes is often too big for actual newborns
  
• If you are getting photos taken 7-10 days is ideal. Most of the newborn photos you'll see are of 7-10 day old babies. Time will vary if preme or multiples. Don't wait several weeks and then still expect to get the same type of photos. at the very least try to book within 24 hours of giving birth though that may only apply to the photographer work for because most of our clients book well in advanced but there's always a few every now and then that call in trying to get in the same day and we have to behave ourselves when we explain that wont be possible.
  
• Gripe water, buy it
  
• Don't touch her stomach after she's given birth.
  
• Get her a push present
  
• have your go bag and car seat ready in the car even earlier than recommended. honestly not sure what's recommended but just do it as early as you can. a lot of our clients have been going early recently.
  
  That's all I can think of for now. Good luck to you and don't worry nobody knows what they are doing the first time. Just by making this post looking for advice you will probably be more ready that many of the first time dads that come into our studio. Just enjoy your time together as much as possible those first few weeks and take lots of photos and videos even if its just on your phone. and back them up. babies grow so fast the first few weeks so they will never be that tiny again. Blink and its over. Oh and for the future, age 2 sucks but 3 should be good. you can usually start bribing them by 3. Again I want to reiterate that I myself and not a father (but I hope to be) so take all of this however you like. I've been working at this studio for almost a decade now (i'm 30) and these are just the things that I've seen and learned from all the parents that come in. Also, Asian babies are the best, have one of those if you can, they're usually prefect for their sessions...
  
  (sorry about typos, too lazy to go back and fix)

As other commenters have said, she could be looking for ways to help/things to do. Think of her like a toddler or a puppy, if you don't give her something safe and acceptable to do, she will have to come up with something on her own. You could set up "task stations" throughout the house; clean towels to fold in the laundry room, recyclables to wash in the kitchen, coloring or a puzzle in another room, have the broom and dustpan out where she can easily see them, etc. If they are easy, common (familiar) housekeeping tasks she should be able to do them without getting frustrated and feel like she is contributing. When you are working in the kitchen, you could have her wipe down the counters or table. Include her in as much of the housework as you can, if she spends 20 minutes washing the table, or ten seconds on the table, four minutes sweeping the floor, and 5 minutes washing recyclables and dishes that won't break, even if she does it all poorly, she was occupied where you can keep an eye on her, while you actually accomplish things.

If she can still read, you can type out instructions for things like creating a load of laundry (picture of a basket filled to a full load of things that can be washed together with instructions saying that the basket needs to be this full of the same color of dirty laundry before it can be washed). Also put reminders on the machines that you have to wait until the cycle is finished before things can be removed and a new load started, and a reminder to take out the load in the machine before adding a new load. Don't make a big deal about the instructions being for her, you and your partner can loudly remind each other to follow the instructions every time you go do laundry. You will still want to supervise her, but the signs might be enough to get the problem under control for awhile. You can also use a sharpie to make a bold mark showing where the dial should point.

Another commenter suggested having a decoy garbage can of clean recyclables for her to dig through, you could expand on that by having a large container of clean, mixed recyclables and some smaller bins to have her sort them into. She gets the fun of digging and gives her a way to "help". Things she finds that she seems especially enamored with (like your pill bottle) can live there. You could also try having her wash the recyclables as you get them and she can add them to her collection, if she has a constant inflow, you might be able to have a secret outflow. Going from ten to zero is much more upsetting and noticeable than removing the same number as are put in to maintain 20.

I agree with everyone saying to lock up the garbage and dog food. These are great for locking cabinets and you can get ones that use strong double stick tape if you don't want to put screw holes in the cabinets. You can also get safety locks (aimed at toddlers) for washers and dryers, it is possible that you could find one, or a combination of a couple, that would be too hard for her to figure out.

For your packages, if you have space by your door, you could get a locking storage bench (if the one you like doesn't have a way to lock it, it isn't too hard to add some hardware). UPS, USPS, and FedEx all have ways to add driver/delivery instructions to shipments, where you could put the combination, on their apps and webpages (unfortunately, I think you have to manually add them to each shipment).

And don't forget to buy some healthy dog treats (or reserve part of the pup's daily food allotment) and put one days worth at a time in a special treat container (or half a day to make it last longer), so she can still "spoil" the pup.

So is the 6 month old starting to crawl yet or showing an interest? Some of my son's former favorites:


learn and play zoo This one was great because it was the only way for him to do tummy time

Manhattan toy company sensory thing It was just great for him to learn grasping and made a rattle. Wonderful in the car

Mortimer the moose Just a simple toy that makes noises (bell in one hoof, squeeker in the body, etc.

play tower May be a little advanced but he will just love watching it and start to understand where to put the balls once he get s a bit older

play cube This one he could sit and play with for a while. It's light so he can pick it up and move it

my personal favorite-spinning tower toy This is a favorite for all ages. A little young at 6 months but he will probably watch it in amazement. My son is now 14 months and understands the concepts well, but before he just loved watching the disks spin. It's been a toy given at many a 1st birthday parties


I hope that gives you a decent start. Good luck!

If he's getting mobile, baby gates to block unsafe areas/stairs? Babyproofing type stuff in general became important for us around that age.

Some people like exersaucer/jumpers and some people don't. I am a fan when they are used for a limited time daily and kid isn't just parked in them all day. They are a nice way to keep a mobile baby occupied and using his energy while you need to chase the 5 year old, prepare a meal, what have you. The argument against (overusing) them is that it can be bad for hip development, walking etc., but I read a great article by a PT professional that explained this but endorsed limited daily use. I got our exersaucer on Craigslist for $20, and then sold it on Craigslist for $20 when we were done with it.

Edited to add, one more thing - these mesh teethers were awesome not just for teething but for distraction too. I would freeze strawberry or peach slices and pop them in there, then hand to baby. He'd toddle around munching on it (mesh prevents them from getting big pieces out) and, if he was teething, of course the frozen fruit was cold and helped with that.

One more thing, I could not do parenting without a white noise thing in baby's room. Your new foster baby may or may not be into it, but you could always pop a white noise app on your phone for a couple days, see if it helps him sleep, and then if so get a white noise machine for the room. Some double as night lights.

Second edit, is he eating solid food yet? I am in love with these bibs, we only have one but I wish we had more. The thing is, they just make cleaning up baby and high chair much faster and easier.

Third edit (I'm sorry, I keep thinking of things that made our lives easier!) - a kid carrier. It might be nice to be able to go out to playground or walk with the 5 year old but have your hands free, you know, and that way new baby still gets stimulation of sights and sounds of the walk along with that extra bonding time. Wearing the baby might be helpful for that. We used a Baby Bjorn from about 6 weeks - 10 months, but at 9 months I wouldn't bother buying one. I hear an Ergo can be used a long time, but we chose a Kelty carrier because we hike a lot and wanted something that could really be stable and ergonomic through the toddler years. Another thing to save money and buy from Craigslist - the style we have is $139 new but we got an older similar model for $35 on Craigslist and it does the job.

:( 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!

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.

The number one thing id say is to make sure you secure your furniture to the walls. Honestly, ir only takes a few mins and some cheap brackets, its definetely worth the effort. I'm going to be another person who praises the magnetic locks. They keep the cabinet door tightly closed so its impossible for him to get his fingers in there and open it like with the spring locks (which took him less than an hour to figure out). Easy to install, it comes with templates. They are really easily switched on/off so you can leave it unlocked if you're cooking or what ever and need to get in a particular cupboard often and dont want to faf around with the magnet key (which works remarkably well through wood!). You cant tell at all from the outside that they are there which i appreciate and it feels really solid and secure. The only downside is that they're a bit more expensive than other kinds of cabinet locks. I definitely think they're worth the money though. The only cabinet I have that you can see the lock from the outside is a spinning lazy Susan corner cabinet that has my pots and pans in. I looked at various products that were specifically for childproofing and they all looked cheap/weak and they made it so you can only spin one way. Then I had a look around and realized that a sliding bolt lock would be able to hold it firmly in place but also retract completely and not impede the cabinet spinning. I usually leave it unlatched coz I dont care if he bangs the pots around but if I'm trying to let my husband sleep it can be loud. Its tight enough that even as a burly, impossibly strong 16 month old he still can't physically get it open. Anyway, the point of that story is that you dont have to rely only on products that are specifically "childproofing" if you can think of a cheaper/stronger alternative that works better. Most of the other things we protected against where things that could hurt him by accident and not particularly things that he might get into if he wasn't being supervised coz I already watch him like a hawk and try to teach him appropriate boundaries. Stuff like sharp corners he might hit if hes running or falls against it and covers for the power outlets, especially the ones that have things plugged into them coz he tries to pull the plugs out and put his finger in the gap between the loosened plug and the wall! Before he was mobile though I just made sure to keep him on a safe surface and make sure nothing dangerous was within his reach. He spent a lot of tummy time on the lounge room rug coz it was easy to keep vacuumed of things he would otherwise try to eat and its really good for core strength. :)

I don't know if it would be too much clutter, that's based of your sister's opinion, size of her home, and storage space so you are a much better judge.

What I would suggest is only buy an activity gym or toys that come off so you can switch them out. My parents house had a used fisher price bouncy reclining seat thing with a bar over it with hanging toys (also useful) but the toys are stuck on so we could never put new ones. New things interest babies just like other people. We have one at home you can take on/off the bar (eeh) and switch the toys (very important).

Also, my daughter favorite toy early on was this thing. It's wood, you can chew on it, shake it and the beads clack, and crush it so the rope changes the shape of the object. She was a bit late on the uptake for toy playing (she loved people/faces/human interaction too much) but got this for Christmas at 4 months and it was good for a few solid months of use and keeping her occupied after that. I would have given it to her earlier given the chance.

I also like the oball products a lot (easy to grab/hold for littles), hanging toys, and toys that make noise for young babies.

These plastic link form together to chain so you can hang the stroller type toys from the stroller, activity gym, ect to the height you want and mix and max products. Also available at target.

A great priced item we got a lot of use out of was this set of toys with a coil to wrap around things. Honestly, it's huge and I did not use it as a whole set. However, each toy comes off and you can velcro it to stuff individually. They are very soft, well made, and all make a diffrent sound. The beach ball has a beautiful little bell inside and the bird can squeak. Even now at one year those two hang on her carseat (which goes into her stroller so as stroller toys too).

These are all things that not only I love but a lot of people in my bumper month group really liked as well, and that I didn't think to ask for in my registry and wish I did:

VAVA nightlight
USB charged, this touch operated nightlight was my best friend in the hospital and at home for late night feeding

Love to Dream swaddle
Amazing swaddle that's super easy to use and lets baby self soothe with their hands

Merlins magic sleepsuit
When baby outgrows swaddling (which happens fast!) this helps muffle the startle reflex to keep baby asleep.

hushh portable sound machine
Basically the only way I get any sleep

beaming buggy
Plays music, lights up and has white noise. Somehow is total magic.

Oball toys
Because there's always someone who wants to just buy toys and these are great for small hands

The thing with cosplay is you have to choose whether to go recognizable or not. In some geek circles (like Star Trek) people go out of their way to be obscure characters. Since you're looking at a screening, you could go a bit off the path, but I still doubt there are that many hardcore fans out there (yet?) who know every sigil. For that reason you may want to stuck to more obvious identifiers.

If you go with a House (my recommendation for price and ease), you could make a cheap and comfortable costume based around a tabard. For that you only need some cloth remnants (you can get them cheap from any store that sells fabric) and compatible street clothes. Wear boots of some kind, pants-that-aren't-jeans, and a long-sleeve shirt that ideally is in the right color scheme of your chosen House. If your boots don't look right and/or you can't lace them over your pants, you can use a cloth remnant to wrap around the bottom of your pants, around the boots and just X-lace it to your leg using another strip of cloth. The same trick can be used on your forearms if your sleeves don't look that great. When it's done in matching colors it can look really good for something so simple.

The key to this though is the tabard that'll cover up the rest of the street clothes. It's the only piece requiring real crafting skills. Make a tabard from the cloth remnants; you can cut out a sigil design for the front of it and just sew it. It can be as nice as you want to make it, like contrast-color borders, or a quartered pattern, etc. I just googled up this guide. I'm sure there are many, many more online.

For accent you can belt it with any wide leather belt. If you can get your hands on (or make) a leather ring belt you'll look even better. Any knife/dagger/sword can help complete the look, though a long blade is usually not that comfortable to deal with when sitting in modern public settings. If you do have leather availability, a simply set of vambraces can also cover the ends of your sleeves and look nice.

The beauty of that is the ability to take it off and be wearing street clothes very easily.

Oh and another thought I had a bit ago for cosplay on the cheap, if you want to go the Maester route. These link toys (another example) are in every generic store, Target, Wal-Mart, etc., for next to nothing. They are very lightweight, come in different shapes, and are easy to link to whatever length of chain you want with whatever color combination. They're a little big, but it's hard to beat the price, and an exaggerated chain would help with cosplay identification. The plastic also should take spraypaint very easily if you want a shiny metallic look. The main drawback to Maester though is the robes. Even if you can find or make them, robes can be heavy, bulky, and hot, so fair warning.

My husband and I used this one from 3 wks old until a little before 6 months, when she got too long. We have a king-sized bed, and put her in the middle. We used our regular king-sized bedding, but we laid the bassinet over the top edge of the blankets so that they couldn't come up over it.

This worked great for us, and honestly if she wasn't so mobile and if she wasn't so long, I wish we could go back to this. It was the time. after her bassinet that was so rough for us. We hadn't planned to bed share, but she had other plans (...I type as she lays on my chest).

Tips for this bassinet:

1. It helps not to put it right up against the headboard because moving around will make it bump and possibly wake the baby. We have a solid headboard, but I figure the same would be true with any headboard and you may need to be sure that the bassinet can't slide through the headboard if it isn't a solid headboard design.
   
   
2. I don't know if this is the bassinet you chose, but I added a little extra padding around the outside support poles (not inside with the baby), because my baby liked to sleep on her side (she would lift her feet in the air and flop herself over from day one) and would rest her forehead against it. I actually used the strap covers from her carseat.
   
   
3. When my baby would get out of the center of the bassinet and I would see it, I would move her back. But my baby was quite small when she was born and had a little more wiggle room than most would.
   
   
4. The way that my husband and I slept, the center of the bed wasn't always level, so we put folded up receiving blankets under the support corners as needed to keep the bassinet level and our baby from rolling to one side or another. If you do this though, and it is the same bassinet that we got, be careful to put it just under the support footing and not under the bassinet mattress or it will push up on the bassinet mattress and make it lopsided.
   
   
5. We made sure our pillows were at least 6 inches if not a foot away from the bassinet. I was paranoid about the idea of her putting her face against the net and there being a pillow there.
   
   We didn't have any problems with this bassinet. If I think of any other concerns or things that we did, I will let you know. But for the most part I felt like it was a safe way for her to sleep. If we have another kid, we will likely use it again.

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!

I am not a doctor, this is not medical advice, everything here can be found on google.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends palivizumab monoclonal antibody for high-risk infants and children with RSV - I don't know your risks, but worth knowing about it. Position here.

Gentle clapping over the chest (front and back) with cupped hands (like this) will help mobilize secretions in the chest.

If there's a bunch of junk in the nose, an aspirator like this can help. Also, a sinus rinse like this in conjunction with suction may help.

Upright as much as possible. warm humid air will help moisten the secretions in the chest, which will help them clear out.

If coughing continues for an extended period, then cold dry air (like driving around with the windows cracked open) will help reduce the inflammation in the airways. Sometimes popsicles will help too, as they indirectly cool all the air being breathed in, and what kid doesn't love popsicles, especially when they don't feel good.

Good luck.

Source: respiratory therapist for ~10 years.

8 months pp here! FTM.

Our journey was not easy. Wasn't as hard as some others but not as easy either.

We had blisters, cracked nipples and serious pain in the beginning. LO took about 2 weeks to figure out how to latch properly and in the meantime, we had to supplement with formula because my milk took over 5 days to come in. I ran out of colostrum very quickly because I had a big ass baby who apparently decided he was quite hungry.

We didn't use a bottle to supplement, we used the supplemental nursing system. I am convinced it's why we're EBF (no bottles) now. But it's a pain in the ass to use and clean but worth it.

He never took to a pacifier. He will drink from a bottle if he had to (comotomo) or even a sippy cup. We got lucky though. He doesn't reject anything that breastmilk comes out of lol. Loves him a breastmilk popsicle.

I would say, if you can get an electric pump for free, get it. Don't bank on things working out from the get go. I had to pump after every feed for weeks because baby wasn't an efficient nurser. If I didn't have my pump, I probably wouldn't have a supply now. Having to pump after every feed really sucks. It's demoralizing as fuck watching nothing but air come out but that's okay. You need that to tell your body to ramp shit up.

If you do pump, make sure you get the right size flanges.

Your nipples will toughen up, but don't listen to anyone telling you to "pre" toughen them. I got that advice from family...I'm really glad I didn't listen. Instead, have plenty of nipple butter ready and slather that shit on like your nips are thanksgiving turkey. gel pads are a must buy as well.

https://smile.amazon.com/Lansinoh-Soothies-Breastfeeding-Soothing-Cracked/dp/B002KGHUL4/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1539231011&sr=8-3&keywords=lansinoh+gel+pads

Try several nipple butters out. Not all work the same for everyone. Earth Mama nipple butter is my jam. But a lot of moms like Lanolin. Lanolin was meh for us.

Also keep high quality raw, unrefined extra virgin coconut oil handy. It's a natural antifungal/antibacterial and in the beginning weeks, thrush is a real concern. Make sure you have probiotics in your system as well.

You could definitely try! Breastmilk is good topically too for eczema. And no, I don't think it's too late necessarily though the causes for eczema are still not 100% clear

My guy has it too and he's breastfed....though it's far less now that I have cut eggs/dairy from my diet. We see a pediatric allergist for it and he's one of the best in his fields and he says that eczema is one of those funny things that we're not 100% clear on what truly causes it. And that one thing can be the cause today....and not be the cause tomorrow.

Don't be nervous!!! See if you have any nursing mama cafe groups, or a La Leche League meeting and go to those. Also see if your hospital has lactation workshops! I went to one every week for the first 3 months. They're a sanity saver bc there's a board certified lactation consultant on hand AND they do weighted feeds.

Clusterfeeding is normal. You can never bring your baby to breast too often. You can bring too little.

Don't ever ever listen to anyone telling you to space baby's feedings out. That comes from formula feeding and NOT breastfeeding. If baby just ate and seems hungry again 30 minutes later? Let em eat.

Don't let baby go more than 2 hrs during the day between feeds. 3 hrs MAX until he's back up to birth weight. Once he's back up to birth weight, you can let baby do the 1 long stretch but you'll want to stack day feeds in your favor then (aim for every 2-3 hrs) Again. You can never offer too much. A baby will stop drinking if they're not thirsty/hungry. The more you bring baby to breast, the better your supply will be. Breastmilk digests in under an hour so keep that in mind when people are trying to tell you baby isn't hungry. Chances are, he probably very much is!

Don't go crazy with nursing bras/tanks just yet. Wait until you've given birth as our bodies will fluctuate like crazy. Then buy ONE you might like and trial it first.

If you have the choice between boppy or my brest friend...the my brest friend is the better pillow for JUST breastfeeding. It's not as versatile as the boppy which I still use now for other things but oh boy is it great for helping you latch a baby.

Use a nipple shield with caution. Weaning off it can be a bitch. If you can power through without it, try. Because then what happens is, you don't get your nipples acclimated and you have to start all over again. Obviously, if the pain is so bad you're going to stop breastfeeding altogether, then yes, of course, do what's necessary but just some things to keep in mind.

If you have the money....I'd think about getting a LaVie massager...that thing has saved me from 3 clogged ducts. Clogs are no joke. The moment you feel one, you work that bad boy out asap. Listen to your body.

Have plenty of drinks/snacks lying around. Look into no bake lactation bites

https://thebakermama.com/recipes/no-bake-lactation-bites/

Be prepared to spend a lot of time with a baby stuck to you. Baby jail is real.

Take your lady, if that's a thing, and go to a store that sells baby stuff and has it all out. That way you can look at all the things and see what you, and more importantly she, likes.

I like Graco, as a company, so we bought mostly stuff from them. And the more stuff works together the nicer it is. We got a carseat that has a base and your baby carrier "snaps" into it. Then you can carry them in that carrier and it can also "snap" into the stroller, so it all works together. so FIND A COMPANY you like and just get one. TBH, strollers, or.. did you call them prams? Have to meet safety standards, so they will all be fine. But figure out how small they fold up too, for transport and storage. Also, if you live in an area with rough terrain, like rocky roads, dirt paths, cobblestones, etc., consider one with large bike tires rather than small plastic wheels. It takes up more space, but it is so much easier to push! They call them jogging strollers. I don't jog... but after one trip to the pumpkin patch which had several hundred feet of crushed stone you had to get across... I went and bought one used.

I also found something REALLY useful called a "rock and play", which is like a rocking sling bed you can put the baby in. Ours actually had a little mechanical foot that let it rock itself. It is a safe place you can put baby down when you need to do something else, like do laundry or feed yourself.

Finally, some babies need to be swaddled to sleep, which means wrapping them up like a burrito. It's pretty easy for them to get out sometimes though which wakes them up. So, they make "sleep sacks" that represent the swaddle but they are zippered. We found one called the Woombie that worked well for us. I think it was like this.

Oh! And don't be afraid to get stuff used. You may not want to, but some of it, like, you barely use, and it's still fine. Especially clothes. Sometimes you get clothes and they don't even wear them because you forget about it, or it gets lost, or you just don't like it, or they are the wrong size for the weather. Also shoes! Baby shoes are stupid expensive, so try to find some cheap at yard sales in various sizes. Throw them in a box and by the time baby needs them, you'll have a bunch. But use common sense. Probably don't buy a used carseat, because you don't know what happened to them, but maybe a pack and play and definitely clothes.

Good luck! Ask questions, we'll help!

So, I totally breastfed one kid and then pumped exclusively for the next, and for the third breastfed a little but mostly pumped and then when I was sick of pumping, I switched to formula.

A couple of things to know about breastmilk production. First is that the initial wave of hormones that triggers the production of breastmilk comes from the delivery of the baby and the placenta. Your milk will come in whether you do anything or not. But, to maintain your supply, you need to empty your breasts and stimulate your nipples about 8 times a day. It doesn't have to be in 2 hour intervals around the clock. A baby doesn't cue to eat at exactly 2 hours around the clock. When you breastfeed you follow the baby's cues. If you are exclusively pumping, then you can pump more frequently in the day and then at night give yourself no more than one 4-6 hour stretch for uninterrupted sleep. Don't go more than six hours without pumping or feeding a baby unless you are trying to decrease your supply, because that is what will happen. If you do go more than six hours, beware that you can get plugged ducts or mastitis. Your supply regulates at 12 weeks, so the first 12 weeks if you want to develop your full supply, it's important to keep up the frequent breast emptying and nipple stimulation. After that, you can go further apart and some people are able to pump as few as 4 times a day with a couple "power pumps" throughout the week (pumping on an off for 10 minutes over a 1 hour period to simulate cluster feeding). But some people need to keep up the eight pumps for the duration of pumping, so you will figure out what works for you. If your goal is not to provide breastmilk only, you can pump less and give some formula, but your supply will tend to gradually dwindle. That might be what works for your family.

Some people do use formula during the very early days of breastfeeding and there is actually evidence that this can increase rates of success because it decreases frustration and allows the baby to have more energy for effective breastfeeding. So you don't have to be afraid of formula. But you do have to stimulate the nipples and empty the breasts. :)

If you are doing a combination of pumping and breastfeeding, the easiest way is to just breastfeed when you are home and then pump when you are away from the baby. In your situation (going back to work), if I liked breastfeeding, I would probably start out breastfeeding and maybe add in 1 extra pump a day if it's not too onerous. Then once your are working, you pump throughout the day while you are away from your baby. Some people breastfeed overnight (this is good for your supply and bad for your level of fatigue), some people use pumped milk or formula. Personally I found this all to onerous with my third, so I mainly pumped because I preferred it to breastfeeding, and my husband and I took turns giving the bottle at night. When I switched to powder formula I would keep bottles prefilled with water and a premeasured formula container at the bedside. Add formula, shake, feed baby. When I went back to school he was 8 weeks, and I rapidly dropped pumps, used up the rest of my freezer milk and guilt free switched to formula. My plan for all future babies is to provide breastmilk for approximately six weeks and then to give formula after that. This is based on my own personal experiences with breastfeeding and my current lifestyle (work full time). You will find what works best for your situation and your family. Some people are able to pump and breastfeed and provide milk for over a year, and they are happy with being able to do so.

Other little tips:

Get a pumping bra or make one by cutting holes in a sports bra.

A lot of moms store their pump parts in the fridge in between pumps and wash and sterilize once a day. This might be an acceptable practice with full term kids (I felt fine doing it with mine after the first six weeks) but for newborns, for milk donation, and especially for any preterm babies it is very important to thoroughly clean the pump parts with soap and water and air dry every single time. Which sucks because preemie moms have enough on their plate, but the evidence suggests that cleaning is an important part of safe milk handling for preemies.

Lastly, I haven't had a chance to try one of these personally (they came on the market after I weaned the last baby) but a lot of my friends have raved about this for use during a feed: https://www.amazon.com/Haakaa-Silicone-Breastfeeding-Manual-Phthalate/dp/B01F8W7CF0

Hi! I’m back!!
Although I thoroughly intend to write my birth story when I’m ready, I just finished my first piece since the baby arrived so in celebration, I’ll pair it with something useful.

I really appreciated posts like this while I was pregnant so here goes:

Things I didn’t know I needed:
(AKA things I have frantically ordered on amazon at or around 2am)

•Bottle Drying Rack This probably seems obvious, but when we didn’t get this from our showers we were like... idk why we can’t just use a towel??

•Safe way to cosleep My husband built a BEAUTIFUL Sidecar Crib, but it was attached on my side of the bed and it took 2.5 weeks for me to have healed enough to climb in bed around it safely with the baby. This way, I didn’t have to bend over to pick up baby or even spit up to check on/soothe him.

•Lactation Suppliment My lactation consultant approved. This one worked well in my breakfast tea.

•Better flanges My poor nipples were so sore and the flames that come with the Medela... well I’m not sure who they’re supposed to fit but not me. My doula practically ordered these for me. GAME CHANGER.

•Pumping bra I was cutting holes in sports bras. This is better.

•Nipple Shells Another kind reddittor sent me in the direction of this AMAZING INVENTION after I posted a photo of ice packs tied to my nipples with a burp cloth because I refused to wear a shirt my nipples hurt so bad. I will be purchasing these for EVERY PREGNANT WOMAN FOREVER. They keep your nipples dry, collect drips, apply counter pressure to keep your nipples shaped correctly for latching, and most importantly omg nothing touches the precious nips and you can wear a shirt!!

•Car mirror

Me: that seems extra, he’s in a car seat and safe why would I need a mirror??

Hormones; HAHAHAAHAHAHAHAH YOU FOOL

•Car adapter for my breast pump Cheaper than batteries

•Shade for his side of the car because anything that wakes up my sleeping baby is the devil. This one has a bonus that allowed me to roll the window down and it was HOT in the south

•Better suction for the breast pump Again- just better than whatever they send you

•My Breast Friend we got the boppy but this one saved my back

•Heating pad Turns out I’ll do ANYTHING to keep the baby asleep when I transfer him to his crib including preheat the darn thing (on low!) before I lay home down

•Stroller Caddy You’ll want somewhere to put your keys, phone, and coffee

•Baby K’tan An easier way for my husband to wear the baby.

•Leggings I had a pair of these before, and they are SO COMFORTABLE on my postpartum body that I bought 5 more in different colors!

•Extra pump parts for whichever pump you have

•A hands-up swaddle I found at Target

•Wine.

Anyway, hope this helps! Best of luck to all of you!

Books, books, books! My babies love(d) Look, Look! (three year old loves "reading" it to his brother), Black & White, Art Cards, the Babyfaces series (esp Hugs and Kisses and Smile!. The World Snacks series is also great; they're bright, (mostly) well-written, and not irritating. Plus, My toddler still loves them, and we started reading them to him when he was three months. I like Yum Yum Dim Sum and Let's Nosh! best. Indestructables are great for babies who eat books. And the Leslie Patricelli books have been a huge hit around here since toddlerdude was a wee baby.

Don't forget non-board books good for reading, such as a Mother Goose (there are also "chunky" ones that are kid-safe), Beatrix Potter, The Wind in the Willows, or even Shel Silverstein.

Toys for this age that I like are sensory balls, music makers, rattles (we had to buy two of those because wee babydude likes it so much), stackers, links, these bead things (a large, four-sided activity cube is gold for this age through toddler hood--like this), stacking cups, and baby's first blocks. We have veriations on all of these (or the exact one listed), and they are popular with both our three year old and the eight month old.

Definitely a bouncer with vibrations and a play bar. Baby can sleep in it, play in it and in the beginning, be fed in it. Light and easy to take with you on trips (especially if you get a folding type). Like this

Car seat cover like this if they live in a cold climate. You don't have to bundle baby.

Definitely zip up baby jammies. Snaps suck.

A baby mirror for the back seat so parents can see baby while they're driving. The light up kind are best here Edited to add this to it's even less distraction for the driver to see baby in the mirror on the backseat.

These chains can attach baby toys to nearly anything, can hook on to a pacifier, and the baby can play with them. I love them.

Sleep sacks. I think the swaddlers are a waste of money when you can do it with a blanket and they're only used for a month or two. Ditto with baby gowns. Other than that, I agree with avoiding clothes.

Sun shades for the car, back seat windows.

A stuffy that crunches, rattles and squeaks. Bonus points if it's got teething corners. The crunchy toys really get baby's attention and can distract them from a full on baby fit.

Gift cards, gift cards, gift cards and bring over a batch of frozen meals that are easy to prepare (lasagna, spaghetti sauce with a box of pasta, casseroles). House cleaning gift certificate and offer (and follow through) to come watch baby so mama can shower or go clean the house and make them dinner then leave.

I'd personally recommend a video monitor with night vision and zoom. Two-way audio is a nice plus but not essential (my husband and I do use it to communicate while one is putting the baby to bed). We have the Infant Optics DXR-8 (the best seller on Amazon) and it's great. The interchangeable zoom lens is really a fantastic feature, as the way our nursery is set up the camera had to be pretty far from the crib. I couldn't live without the video aspect as our son tends to spit up a lot and it's essential to see if I need to go and change the sheet, plus I just like to see him for peace of mind.

Some friends of ours got a really expensive wi-fi monitor so that they can view the video from anywhere, but I only think you'd need this if you had a nanny and needed to check on things while you were at work or something.

> I was never actually fit for the mask. The tech just gave me a large.

This sucks and it happens far too often. Mask fit is critical but these DMEs just toss you whatever they happen to stock and expect it to be perfect. Ideally, the tech would have let you try on a bunch of different masks to see which one actually fits your face. Most likely, you can still contact the DME and have them do an actual fitting.

>the bridge of my nose hurts

This could be the wrong mask for you or possibly over tightening the straps. It seems illogical, but most masks fit better with looser straps. All of us overtighten the straps when first starting out on CPAP.

>Everything seems to be ok when I go to sleep but during the night it seems like the mask fit changes.

Rolling over could cause this and a CPAP pillow might help. With a normal pillow, when we roll over, the mask hits the pillow and can be jarred loose. A CPAP pillow has a cutout to prevent this. Here's the one I like:

https://www.amazon.com/Contour-Products-CPAPMax-Pillow-CPAP/dp/B01LYNBWXG

Also, some machines have a leak alarm (usually in the hidden "clinician's menu").

>I get leaks, mask 'farts'

Getting the mask to fit better should be the first priority, but there's also a way to make the mask more sticky and help prevent leaks. Just a tiny dab of this will do, not even a pea size.
It's found with diapers or:

https://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-Breastfeeding-Moisturizer-Preservative-Hypoallergenic/dp/B005MI648C?th=1

>Is it just a matter of getting used to the mask?

This is part of it, but if the mask isn't comfortable enough, then you're not going to stick with it for the long haul.

>I have a lot of congestion and I am afraid that won't work.

Yeah, this probably means that a full face mask is going to be more useful. The one I like is the ResMed AirFit F20. It fits a wide range of faces because it's a lot more springy and flexible. Also, most masks also have a "sizing guide" available online that you can print out to get a better idea.

You don't need 3 swings/rockers - pick one.

You don't need 2 strollers - pick one.

You don't need 2 activity mats - pick one.

You don't need 2 cribs - pick one.

You don't need 2 mattresses - pick one.

You have 3 different bottle types; I'd recommend choosing just one and not bother getting another brand unless your baby has issues with that one. You don't want to unbox, sanitize, etc. and risk not being able to return the other set.

I don't see the point of those "wet and dry wipes" organizer pouches; a ziploc bag works just fine if you want to carry small amounts of wipes with you.

As far as baby carriers go, I recommend Lillebaby over Infantino, hands down. They sell some of their styles in Target, but you can get more on the Lillebaby website or Amazon. You may want opinions from /r/babywearing, or go to a local Babywearing International meeting to try out carriers before choosing one.

Things I don't see:

• Washcloths
  
• Towel/robe
  
• First aid essentials (thermometer, nail clipper, Nose Frida, baby Tylenol, baby Motrin, diaper rash cream, Aquafor, hair brush, shampoo, etc.)
  
• More sheet sets. My daughter just had a nose bleed last night and that means we only have one more fitted sheet that isn't stained in some way. Get more! Haha.
  
• Baby monitor - totally a personal choice, but I recommend one.
  
• Muselin blankets or swaddles. I know you have the velcro swaddles, which are great, but sometimes baby just needs a light blanket in the car seat or in their swing. Even though my daughter is almost 2, we still have a swaddle cloth in her diaper bag. I use it to cover the ground if she wants to play on the floor somewhere that's filthy (like an airport terminal).
  
• Burp cloths. We always used these tri-fold diapers as burp cloths - they're not trendy-looking, but they're cheap and very effective.
  
• Other basic clothing items like footie PJs, pants, hats (since you're having a winter baby, assuming you're in the northern hemisphere), etc.
  
  I always recommend Lucie's List when it comes to having a basic, not-overdone registry. They talk about essentials (not fluff) and sort things by price.
  
  You may also want to post this in /r/beyondthebump rather than here, since everyone in Beyond The Bump have already had a kid.
  
  Good luck!

For our first kid, we bought the Halo but he HATED it, so I would caution against spending a ton of money on any sleep solution, if you can help it. Easier said than done though, I know. Our son ended up preferring the boppy lounger which was not "safe for sleep" but worked for the first week (we took shifts, basically) until we had the stamina to teach him how to sleep in his crib.

The second thing I'll say is: have a couple things to try, if you can swing it. Babies are finicky. They're going to hate a lot of what you plop them in for sleep.

And lastly, I'll contradict everything I said above haha: I wish for kid 1 that we had just stuck with ONE thing for longer than a day. I think in some ways it may just take them a few days to adjust to ANY new place to sleep that isn't your belly. So pick something and stick with it even if they hate it and cry their faces off. They'll get used to it after 2-3 days. That's our plan this time at least...

Other options:

We got this for free from a friend so are planning on trying it out. I'm excited, she said it was great especially bc it was on wheels so made it easy to move from room to room if they needed to. https://www.amazon.com/Arms-Reach-Concepts-Clear-Vue-Cocoa/dp/B008C2YKWC/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&ref_=oh_aui_i_sh_in_o0_img

We also just got this basically for free (only had to pay for shipping) and I'm excited to try it out. 100% safe for sleep, and pretty straightforward (and cheap, so why not). You just have to take a quiz on safe sleep to get it. https://edu.babyboxco.com/home

We have this on our registry but haven't purchased yet. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YBADM1O?colid=2T5L5M1XY90ZA&coliid=I1VNXP4A6ZQL3H&ref=br_ADD_TO_CART_title_link

​

Good luck!

​

When I was pregnant with my first I didn't think we needed a video monitor, but then when we moved her into her own room I decided we did. It is SO helpful. When she would cry out in the night I could peek on the monitor and see if she was actually waking up or just snuggling back in to sleep, so I didn't get out of bed if I didn't need to.

That first one I bought was a Foscam that isn't available anymore and I wouldn't recommend anyway. It had a feature where the screen would turn on if it detected noise, which sounds nice, but was actually really annoying. We ended up keeping the screen on all the time, which burnt it out pretty quickly.

Just a few months ago I ordered this one and I love it. Great picture, good sound quality, and the sound when speaking through the monitor to the baby/kid is good too. We don't use that feature often, but it's nice to have. It also shows the temperature in the baby's room, which is really good because our daughter's room gets cold quickly. We plan to get a second camera to use in the second baby's room because you can link it to the one monitor and go back and forth between views. They also have the option to add on a wide angle lens to see the whole room rather than just a close up of sleeping baby, which will be nice as our kids get older.

1.) It's a couch, it's a bed... What can I say, I WANT IT!

2.) Chocolate chip cookies and milk are the best. Lulls me right to sleep!

3.) Flannel for the whole family! Too cute.

4.) Night light and home fragrance diffuser in one! Plus it's a cute little owl. I also love Bath and Body Works. I have a few of these and love them!

5.) This... Thing is supposed to help babies sleep. No idea if they work. But it's interesting.

BONUS: This panda plush?

She used to say she could taste sleep and that it was as delicious as a BLT on fresh French bread.

A lot of babies will protest being swaddled at first but will eventually calm down (with that bouncing/shushing/white noise thing you've got going on) and then being swaddled is what will help them stay asleep.

You might look up the double swaddle to make sure he can't break free.

Are you using a yoga ball? That was my baby's favorite form of bouncing and easier than doing it manually, lol.

They also make a baby shusher to save your vocal chords - my friends swear by it: https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Shusher-Soothing-Miracle-Babies/dp/B00D2JN87I

ETA: Maybe he would like Merlin's Magic Sleepsuit better than being swaddled? If I were you, I'd try anything at this point. http://www.magicsleepsuit.com/

• Changing Table: I had a c-section and would have been useless without it
  
• changing table organizer
  
• Toys!: Freddie is a favorite. We couldn't live with out these. We really didn't get any, so when my son got interested in toys we were running out to buy them. Also the last thing to add, an exersaucer type deal. My son can sit in it and play on his own for a good hour. I have having a bad evening and wanted nothing more than to relax in the rub. I drug the dam thing into the bathroom for him so he could play while I bathed.
  
• A place for baby to sit/nap. Whether it be swing or rocker. We used this the most.
  
• gas drops, gripes water, and tylenol.
  
• sleep sacks
  
• Aden and Anais swaddle blankets: My spawn could break through most of the velcro swaddles, but use one of these and the russian swaddling method and he was stuck.
  
• covered garbage can for diapers. We use this with just plain shopping bags.
  
• all different kinds of diapers and diapering supplies. It lets you go through the different brands of diapers, butt cream, and wipes to find what works best for your child.
  
• Even if you plan on breast feeding have a small thing of formula and bottles on hand just in case.
  
• Crib soother thingies. We have a giraffe that does music and heart beat sounds. We also just got a Baby Einstein fish soother thingy.
  Seasonally appropriate clothing. I got tons of cute little short sleeved onesies for my Late Dec. baby. He lived in fleece sleepers his first couple of months.
  If you are having a winter baby a car seat cover is a necessity.
  
  Sorry I'm kind of rambling. This seems like a lot, but we bought a lot of our stuff second hand at garage sales and thrift stores.

Mitten cuff onesies are our favorite to use on our little one. Especially when he was just born, it was too hard to trim his nails and having the option to cover his hands without dealing with mittens made it so easy. We also don't use much of the pajamas that covers their legs because the less buttons you have to deal with in the middle of the night, the better.


Gerber Unisex-Baby Newborn 3 Pack Longsleeve Mitten Cuff Onesies Brand, White, 0-3 Months https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007C2PVT4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_IdtQDb99VDGMH


You'll definitely need more burp cloths. I have about 30 and could use more. Cloth diapers as burp cloths are great since they're so absorbent. We use these the most.


Gerber Birdseye 3-Ply Prefold Cloth Diapers, White, 10 Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007VBYVWE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_cGtQDbV795PPP


Our baby also loves his Wubbanub and they're nice so baby can practice grabbing things and they don't roll off baby as easily as a regular pacifier would. They have a ton of different animals.


WubbaNub Infant Pacifier - Baby Penguin https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018HJ0TXI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_LPtQDbK2J7FFW


But really overall your registry looks good! You have a great variety of different sized clothes so that's good. The Dr. Brown's bottles are also great, I would just suggest having a large bowl in your sink to soak all the parts without them touching everything else in the sink. Or if you have a divided sink maybe use just one side for baby things. The only extras I would suggest are a small nail kit to keep in your diaper bag, baby blankets to cover baby up in his car seat or to swaddle, and Aquaphor when lotion isn't enough. Hope that helps!

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.

Wow. I really like that babylist website! Never seen it before. Very easy to read and the font is nice too. I used the click connect 35 car seat/stroller for my last baby and was very happy with it. I hope you like it too :)

Edit: can I recommend the boppy newborn lounger? It is my favorite baby gear item. It's a safe place to put down your newborn and they can nap there too (must be supervised though!). Also inexpensive. boppy newborn lounger

1. this bed just looks so damn comfortable. Like you could just fall into it.
   
   
2. graham crackers and milk are so tasty and great for a midnight snack!
   
   
3. 
   these adorable sleeping cat pajamas even have matching slippers.
   
   
4. I personally prefer the dark, but this looks like a beautiful night light to fall asleep to, especially for anyone who likes the ocean.
   
   
5. if the baby shusher doesn't work, play the baby some 80's music
   
   “She used to say she could taste sleep and that it was as delicious as a BLT on fresh French bread.”
   
   
   Thanks for the contest!

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.

Ah, if you stay home you may not need to, but if the insurance company provides you a pump for free, why not? Plus, if you need to take a trip without the kiddo (it happens!) or you get a plugged duct while baby is sleeping (it happens!) you may want the pump to help out.

We did a bassinet for the first, err... 3 months, 4 months? Eventually though they'll get too big for even a bigger bassinet. I think ours outgrew hers at around 6 months. The pack and plays are okay, but oh boy are they low to the floor (being... on the floor and all...) Maybe look at the convertible bed-crib things? 2 things in one go!

And yeah, wait for Target baby stuff sales. Worst case is you get a gift card that you then spend on diapers.

Oh a few items you didn't know you wanted (but you probably want!)

1. Butt paste wand. Trust me. Get this. https://www.amazon.com/BabyBum-Diaper-Cream-Brush-Blue/dp/B00LYQ53JW/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1538604479&sr=8-1&keywords=baby+butt+wand. Diaper cream is a great thing, but it gets stuck EVERYWHERE.
   
2. Baby changing caddy. https://www.amazon.com/gp/slredirect/picassoRedirect.html/ref=pa_sp_atf_aps_sr_pg1_1?ie=UTF8&adId=A04588481Q6AWCSY7ABYX&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FDexbaby-Changing-Station-Toddler-Organizer%2Fdp%2FB00512VMVI%2Fref%3Dsr_1_1_sspa%3Fie%3DUTF8%26qid%3D1538604532%26sr%3D8-1-spons%26keywords%3Dchanging%2Bstation%2Bcaddy%26psc%3D1&qualifier=1538604532&id=4049971636655450&widgetName=sp_atf. Can you live without it? Yes. But is it nice when you're changing a kiddo at 2am and need everything in one place? Yep.
   
3. Nose Frida. Seems gross, but oh man is it more effective than the bulbs in a lot of cases. https://www.amazon.com/Nasal-Aspirator-NoseFrida-Snotsucker-Fridababy/dp/B00171WXII/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1538604617&sr=8-4&keywords=nose+frida. When the baby gets its first cold, you'll need at least this, a bulb, maybe a Dyson with an attachment, an industrial vacuum tube... Maybe my kid was just a snot factory...
   
   That's about it. Maybe 1000 swaddles...

Totally normal. Some things that could help are nipple gel pads like these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002KGHUL4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_WCirDbMXEKJMF

Just slather on a healthy layer of lanolin and pop them inside your bra. It feels great and some people like to refrigerate these for extra soothing right after a feed. I didn't love that, but they're amazing regardless.

And I haven't tried nipple shells yet, but you could pick up something like these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B8DTGCX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_MEirDbTFGVS39

Again, just slip inside your bra and they keep your nipples from touching anything. As a bonus, they'll catch your let-down (which your can save) and also allow for breastmilk to dry on your nipples, which is naturally soothing and hydrating.

With both of these options, your nipples should be able to heal quicker and feel better overall!

Single mom of a five month old baby here, so like you I handled all wakeups. She did the standard non-stop fussing until she was a little over two months old. I was walking her around my apartment in her stroller at 3am losing my mind. What really made a difference was the Shusher. It sounded so silly to me but it has been a lifesaver. I still use it to soothe her to sleep, and it's easier than shh-ing her myself. Best $40 I ever spent. They also have an app but it's $5 and glitchy. It will be my go-to gift for any baby shower for here on out.

And it does get better, I promise!!

http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Shusher-Soothing-Miracle-Babies/dp/B00D2JN87I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412621475&sr=8-1&keywords=shusher

http://smile.amazon.com/Infant-Optics-Monitor-Interchangeable-Optical/dp/B00ECHYTBI/ref=zg_bs_166870011_3

We could have gone cheaper, but nothing had ratings as good, or as many features. There are more popular Motorola models, mbp36, but they didn't have nearly as many positive reviews. I've tested it from the upstairs nursery to the basement and back yard with no issues or interference.

Price fluctuates between $209 and $171 (got lucky when I bought it for that a month or so ago).

Pick a model you like, and use camelcamelcamel to watch the prices for you.

Edit: Features I wanted include talk back, pan and zoom, expandable by adding another camera, good night vision, large viewable handheld monitor, good battery life, optional wide angle lens for when she's older and moving around her room and a far reaching range that didn't interfere with my WiFi.

Cloth diapers - flour sack towelsfrom amazon as the stuffers - cheap and clean easily. Bamboo liners for the poop. Rubber gloves for swishing it in the toilet for the parts that don't come off with the liners. Lot's of covers that can be used from newborn to 35 lbs. You can use any bum cream if you use the flour sack towels as well FYI because it doesn't ruin them. Also pick up a couple of these laundry bags. Wipes.

Cleaning is easy - "quick wash" with a bit of soap, then a hot long wash for extra soiled diapers.

Baby nest was nice to have but not a necessity. Blankets/towels can help. Also a wrap is nice for the first 6 months but not necessary.

Gripe water for gassy baby, Punkin Butt teething oil

A pump, even hand pump will be handy. Especially in the first few weeks she's regulating her supply.

Zip up sleepers (snaps suck)

Baby Bag (backpack style)

Don't worry about a baby changing table, you can change anywhere. Don't worry about a diaper genie since you're cloth diapering.

Breastfeeding scarf/carseat cover

Older baby (6-12 months will come fast)

- snack containers

- Food holder thing(frozen bananas are awesome for teething)

I think for pacifiers, be thankful you wont have to take that away in the future.

As for bottles, I cant remember that far back (my son is 21 months) but I feel like he started to enjoyed straws. I know there are "transition bottles" that could maybe help?

Or this kind of "sippy" cup is my favorite cup (and we still use it now!!) is this one.

Hang in there! Your baby just loves you soooooo much and wants you by his side. :)

Came here to say this! Seriously, Nosefrida is awesome. Looks weird, but it's legit. It totally saved my sanity and helped baby breathe better almost immediately. Reviews
I would also talk to the pediatrician just to be safe. Congratulations and good luck!

I’m no lactation consultant but it looks like he just has a little mouth. My son had a great latch, no tongue or lip ties and my nipples cracked just because he was little. Keep doing what you’re doing; although coconut oil may not be enough of a barrier to help your nipple heal. Lanolin is really great or if you’re opposed get some lansinoh soothies or Medela soothing gel pads. The soothing pads after the saline soaks were really effective for me. I also used a nipple shield to give the nipple a break- just make sure to use the right size.

YES - my son is a climber, a runner, and loves to get into everything. Babyproofing made my life so much calmer. Here's some of my favorite finds.

Door Monkey - fits on standard (not beveled) door frames, installs in 1 second, and works fantastic as both a pinch guard and to prevent entry/exit. Its also nice on bedroom doors which have locks on them, as I'd get locked out of multiple rooms otherwise as my son knows how to activate those locks.

flip lock - for the front door, as my kid figured out how to move a chair to the front door and unlock it and get outside. Easy to install high up, looks nice, cheap, and is easy to work.

Baby fence - put this around the stuff you want to keep baby out of! Things such as entertainment centers and computer desks can be surrounded by this fence.

magnetic locks - for those drawers that you don't want any possible entry into, i.e. drawers with money. Very solid lock.

Latches - for things that can't be drilled into/that you don't want to drill into. You can lock the bottom drawer of the stove, the dishwasher, regular drawers, etc with this. Easy to install; I don't know how easy to remove.

Take time for yourself and for your husband. As tempting as it is to stay in the NICU 24/7, dont. Be there for hands on time, but make sure you are taking care of you. See if you NICU has this book available. Its an amazing book that helps you get through the NICU experience. I have to warn you though, its has a ton of information so only read the sections that would apply to you.

Take a ton of pictures! You will not believe how quickly those babies will grow. My twins were born at 28 weeks at first I didn't want any pictures because I didn't want to remember the NICU, but I am so glad that I took so many. As heartbreaking, stressful, and exhausting the NICU was, in a way I am so glad.

Also keep a journal of any questions you might have and also write down the answers! I cant tell you how many times I had a question, but I got so distracted that I forgot to ask the doctors or nurses.

Also you have the right to request a nurse to be your primary nurse. This means that any time that nurse is working she will have your kids. If she isn't someone's primary she will most likely agree to it. Alternatively if you have a nurse that you don't like, you can request not to have her again. I had a nurse that I didn't really mesh well with. Her care was okay, but I hated how she treated me and talked to me, so I requested not to have her again. She was pleasant she just talked to me like I was an idiot and refused to let me change my kids' diapers on my own...I'd only been doing that for at least a month by this point.

Anyway I hope your NICU stay is short and sweet. If you ever want to chat or talk feel free to give me a pm. I had my twin boys at 28 weeks and we were in the NICU for 79 days. We almost lost one, but thankfully they are both healthy and home now. :)

I would actually get the onsie in a 3-6 month size. Most people get new moms clothes in 0-3 months so I go up at least one size when I buy a gift. Also check out the comments on the onsie if they have it as some infant clothes sizes are crazy wrong.

I have a lot of friends who are pregnant or just a baby in the last couple of years and was a Nanny for over 10 years and I buy one traditional gift for the baby and the rest are gifts that are not the 'norm. Depending on how much money you want to spend here are some ideas: mani/pedi or massage for mom (Groupon is great!), restaurant gift cards that deliver, house cleaning services, baby massage class, box of healthy snacks especially for breastfeeding moms,

Here are some more traditional but still very useful gifts parents might not know about that I posted somewhere else.

Hands free bottle holder
http://www.amazon.com/Bottle-Feeding-Bebe-Sling-LLC/dp/B003Z66X5W/ref=pd_cp_ba_3

Plush pacifier: I get this for almost everyone because you loose so many pacifiers and it keeps it in the baby's mouth.
http://www.amazon.com/WubbaNub-22352-Giraffe/dp/B003CK3LDI/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1398892663&sr=8-5&keywords=pacifier

Non-electric travel bottle warmer
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004I110D8/?tag=buzz0f-20

Swaddle Pod
http://www.amazon.com/Summer-Infant-SwaddlePod-Caterpillar-Newborn/dp/B006K6DF9Q/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1398893796&sr=8-8&keywords=swaddle

Cuddle-U Nursing Pillow- looks like a boppy but it does so much more. I really like to give this to parents because you're not supposed to lay infants straight on there backs after feeding so you prop them up with this. It helps with spit ups, gas, and colic.

http://www.amazon.com/Leachco-Cuddle-U-Nursing-Pillow-More/dp/B000RHYPS4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1398894056&sr=8-3&keywords=baby+lounger

Baby Shusher - actually works and just saw they have a app but only for iphones for now
http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Shusher-Soothing-Miracle-Babies/dp/B00D2JN87I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398894587&sr=8-1&keywords=baby+shusher

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/baby-shusher/id419606496?mt=8

Hope this helps!

I also have a bunch of stuff on my registry that is inexpensive ($10-$25) for friends and if my coworkers decide to do a shower here which they have done for other new moms in the past. Here are some of the things I have on mine
Sleeping gowns so you don't have to unsnap the onesie for midnight changes

A baby tub

Tub Thermometer

Baby thermometer

Nose Frieda which others have mentioned

preferred bath/care products

Cloth diaps which make fantastic burp cloths/cleanup

Nursing pillow also good for tummy time


Plus some other odds and ends. People will also buy stuff that they like, so you'll probably get stuff that was not on your list and that is ok. You can also request to have a "diapers n wipes" shower which a friend did since she was on her 4th child, and she probably got 2 months worth of diapers and wipes out of it if not more. Also, make sure you get multiple covers for your changing pad, it'll be nice to have more than 1 when it needs washing! Congratulations!

We went with the infant optics. after it was recommended by several friends. Super easy to use, all the normal features, but it is also very easy to add cameras to and ha s interchangeable lenses so you can use narrow or wide lens views as your kid grows. Only $165.

Personally, I find it a lot easier to have a physical monitor to walk around with that is always playing the audio instead of needing to use a phone and open an app. Plus its easy to hand off to nannies/sitters/family members without messing around with everyone's phone.

Not accessible remotely, but I also don't have to worry about someone else ever logging into it.

There are a few advantages of the regular baby cams.

1. It is a standalone system, so it's easier to travel with. You can take it on vacation or to a friend's house more easily and have it just work without internet.
   
   
2. It's sometimes easier to just carry around the monitor with you and have it be a dedicated machine compared to having to pull out a phone, wait for an app to load/connect, etc. Baby monitors are always connected and real-time, so if your baby is crying you can see why much quicker.
   
   
3. My baby cam (Infant Optics DXR-8) has a volume meter on the side, so even if you have the volume muted, you can see if the baby is making noises, and how loud those noises are (crying vs babbling, etc). This is great for just a quick check while you are watching TV or doing something where you can see the monitor but not hear it.
   
   The downsides are basically what you stated- you can't really re-use the system when your baby grows up, and the quality of most IP cams is better. Our baby cam at least has some different lenses and the ability to pan around the room, so it serves its purpose pretty well.
   
   Good luck with your decision!

My first recommendation is to check to see if she has a baby registry. New parents need/want LOTS of stuff, and while all gifts are appreciated, having someone help cover the essentials always made us really happy! Some of my favorite gifts were for things we needed like extra bottles, bassinet sheets, and giftcards to Amazon.

Now, to your question - here are some top items we've used with our new baby:

• If she's breastfeeding then nipple balm, nursing pads (I like the Lansinoh disposable ones), cooling pads for your bra for when you're engorged, a Haaka breastmilk pump/saver, and nursing tank tops.
  
• An activity mat
  
• High contrast books and toys to look at
  
• Extra changing pad liners
  
• Dreft stain remover (GREAT for poop stains!)
  
• Burp cloths (you can literally never have too many. We love these from aden + anais.)
  
  
  With the exception of the activity mat, you can really never have too many of the above items!

3 is a REALLY hard age. It's completely normal to feel overwhelmed by trying to parent, especially a child who has extra challenges from a health problem. A few things:

1. You need to make sure that you're taking care of yourself. Other people have mentioned the possibility of this triggering your own mental health issue. When my health issues were addressed, it made parenting SO much easier. You also need breaks and a way to remove yourself from situations where you are overwhelmed. We used these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004ECJWK4/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&th=1 to keep our son in his room, where he was safe. Because of how it latches, it's still easy to hear if something goes wrong, but doesn't allow them to wander around/get into dangerous things. Obviously you can't just lock your child in their room for hours at a time. But if you're loosing control of your own emotions, 10 minutes of being in their room is a lot healthier than you losing it on them.
   
   
2. It might help to see a therapist. They can give you tools to help calm down.
   
   
3. This is the big thing that I wish I knew when my oldest son was three. It's okay that your kid is out of control. You cannot control him. You cannot force him to behave. And he's not capable of controlling himself yet either. That means that there are going to be a LOT of times where he's out of control. That can feel overwhelming and scary, but it is NORMAL and there isn't anything that you need to do to "fix" it. Keep communicating your expectations and just hang on. He will mature. His ability to control himself will improve. He won't behave this way when he's 14. His misbehavior doesn't mean that you're a bad parent.
   
   With all that said. Don't feed the emotions. If he's melting down, put consequences on hold. Adding time outs, or losing privileges, or spanking him isn't going to help things. It's only going to add anxiety for him and you and extend the problem. He feels out of control and doesn't know how to change that. More consequences for not doing something he doesn't know how to do aren't going to help. Reset your expectations to things that you think both of you can accomplish. Fighting over cleaning up toys? Decide that you'll come back to the toys and go get a drink instead. Is he melting down because he wants a snack and it's an hour until dinner? Get out of the kitchen and start a bath. (Add food coloring for extra distraction.) Are you trying to do grocery shopping and he's throwing a fit? Get the stuff you need for dinner and head home. Parenting a 3 year old requires a LOT of flexibility and that's not always a part of a parent's personality.
   
   Last suggestion. If you can afford it, find a drop off day care that will allow you a little time away. That way, every Tuesday at 10 (or whatever time works for you) you can drop off littlenotbeingmyself#1 and put littlenotbeingmyself#2 in the running stroller and do that thing that you love. There have been times where I've felt like the fact that I'm a stay at home parent means that I should ALWAYS be watching them. And I've discovered that's not healthy for any of us. Hang in there. It does, eventually, get easier.

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.

So far, looking good. My tips or advice:

• Use Sleepyhead, as others mentioned here. Much better data.
  
• Your pressure will likely be adjusted upwards. For reference, my AHI (apnea/hypopnea incidents per hour) is less than 1.0 99% of the time. The goal is generally less than 5.
  
• The mask may occasionally cause skin irritation and/or redness at contact points—perhaps due to friction or skin dryness. With a nasal mask (the Wisp), it was bridge of my nose. With the Airfit P10, it tends to be the inside edges of my nares, and with the Phillips Dreamwear (my favorite mask yet) it is occasionally the outside corners of the nose. When this happens, I have found great success using a small amount of Lanolin ointment before going to bed. You can usually find it in the nursing section of a supermarket, packaged like this. Vaseline may work as well.
  
• Clean your mask, hose, and tank weekly. I use vinegar (to dissolve any hard water deposits), then use a gentle all-natural dish detergent that smells okay.
  
• Use distilled water for your humidifier, and it will substantially extend the life of your tank, hose, and mask.
  
• Don't be afraid to try other masks. I tried several before ending up with the Dreamwear, which has worked wonderfully for me.

Have you considered a baby box? They are cheaper than a pack and play, small, portable, and safe. I have heard that some countries send them to expectant moms as a care package, but you can buy them too. After I quick search I found this one (the link takes you to an article explaining Benifits of a baby box) and this one. , but I’m sure there are more options out there.

Or conversely you could look at co-sleeping bassinets like this , which at $35 is super easy on the pocketbook. It also has a 4 star rating on amazon and is good through 3 months old!

I mean, I wouldn't give the kid a steak or anything large and fibrous but some puree would probably be fun. We started giving our little boy solids pretty young. Our Ped told us 6 months is the rule of thumb because of the ability to move foods around with the tongue. We kind of listened, kind of didn't.

Our boy got teeth at 3 months so that's pretty much when we started giving him solids. In addition to homemade purees and jarred baby food (he LOVED sweet potato) we would give him avocado, or watermelon/other fruit in one of these netted holders so he could chomp on it and get the juice/goop out without the worry of choking.

First of all, congratulations! That is so exciting.

The two best things we got for our newborn, other than the obvious completely required things like a carseat, place to sleep, and diapers:

• Sleep sacks/swaddle sacks. To be specific, this kind has worked magically well for our baby. It seems comforting and comfortable to her, not too hot, and perhaps most importantly, unlike other types or brands we tried, there's no parts that get loose on her, and she can't get out of it on her own at all. The smallest size fit her when she was born (about 6.5 lb) and fits her now at 9 weeks (about 11 lb).
  
  
• This changing pad. Comfortable for the baby, but also extremely easy to wipe off. I can't imagine using a cloth-covered changing table.
  
  Stuff we bought or received that has been useless:
  
  
• Clothes that are hard to put on the baby. We received a lot of cutesy little outfits that required a lot of wrangling to get on the baby, and after a few tries, those went straight to the donation pile. IMO, onesies are where it's at, especially for babies who are fussy about being changed.
  
  
• A lot of "newborn sized" clothes, particularly the cheap ones, were too small for our baby even literally the day she was born-- and as described above, she was quite a small newborn, in the 11th percentile or so of both weight and length. I think that unless there's reason to expect that the baby will be extremely small, I'd skip straight to the "0 to 3 month" size.
  
  
• A pack and play. This might be useful someday when we use it as a playpen, but our newborn just freaked out about being in the bassinet part of it. She wants to either be held, or be moving/bouncing at all times, unless she's 100% asleep. While YMMV, this doesn't seem super unusual for babies, so if you don't have one yet, I might hold off on this particular thing until you can gauge whether it will be useful yet to you or not.

Have you heard of the wonder weeks app/book? It’s a couple dollars to buy the app, but it talks about all the different developmental stages the baby goes through until about 2 years old and different activities to do with them to help them develop those skills. I don’t know how much faith I put into the aspect of leaps and fussy phases it talks about, but I find the app super helpful when discussing the developmental phases.

Edit to add: at 13 weeks my son loved his mahatten winkle toy. It really helped with his ability to grab things. https://www.amazon.com/Manhattan-Toy-Winkel-Sensory-Teether/dp/B000BNCA4K

Not exactly a traditional manual pump, but I love the Haakaa pump. Might be what you’re already referring to though.

It’s a small suction hand pump. Great for catching letdown on your opposite side, or in the shower/bath when you randomly let down. If I use it twice a day, I extract enough for a bottle feeding. Super easy and has no parts, so cleaning is a breeze!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F8W7CF0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_f5BVAbE103QS0

You should try different swaddles. We switched to the Swaddle Up Love to Dream for our second (our first was also a terrible sleeper), and it was a game changer. I also heard the Merlin suit was amazing as well. Links below, good luck.

Love To Dream Swaddle UP, Gray, Small, 8-13 lbs, Dramatically Better Sleep, Allow Baby to Sleep in Their Preferred arms up Position for self-Soothing, snug fit Calms Startle Reflex https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0081GJ038/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_xZWYDbJH7YMXE


Baby Merlin's Magic Sleepsuit - Swaddle Transition Product - Microfleece - Blue - 3-6 Months https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0095YY7RY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_TYWYDbF516YCE

• Not really a physical gift per se, but personal space and not being bombarded 24/7 with messages from people asking to visit and asking to see pictures of the baby.
  
  
• For my husband and I: filling snack food (meals are great too but we weren't always able to sit down with a bowl of something), socks/pajamas/comfy clothes, hair ties/bobby pins, body lotion, grocery gift card to somewhere with delivery or click & collect, amazon gift card
  
  
• For baby: boppy lounger, diapers/wipes. Only one friend brought diapers and food - all other visitors brought clothes mostly. Which of course were appreciated, but in terms of practicality, diapers and wipes would have gotten more use. My daughter has so many clothes, some weren't worn and still have the tags on

Just go now:

Sleeper - Agree with OP, this thing is fantastic. Daughter never slept in her "real" crib until nearly 9 months old. Really pissed that they added the auto-rocker and now I'm tempted to spend $90 to replace our perfectly good one.

Swing - Get one that plugs-in. Also, the one that rocks like a ship (4mom?) and is like $300 - wife's cousin bought one because expensive = best and kid was getting sea sick.

Nosefrida or Baby Comfy Nose - this may save your sanity and the life of you, your spouse, or your child because otherwise sleepless nights are in your future.

Boppy - amazingly useful.

Extra car seat base

Don't bother:

• Baby wipe warmer
  
• Bumbo
  
• Diaper Genie - they barely work and you get a compressed plastic log of unholy smell instead of a plastic bag that you can get rid of after one diaper if warranted.
  
  Kid Dependent:
  
  Bottles - we got lucky on our first try and she did great with the Tommy bottles. Don't buy a ton or at least don't open them all and be unable to exchange.
  
  Formula - not judging and sometimes its necessary or just a simple convenience. But some kids prefer one brand over another and/or will react differently to different brands. Also, Costco = Gerber; Target = Similac and WalMart/Sam's = Enfamil.
  
  Pacifier - some love them, some hate them. Most love, but ours hated the straight kind and was insisting on the flat ones within a few months.
  
  Humidifier - get a real one that uses heat and be smart enough to put it far enough away from the kid so they don't get burned. Ultrasonic doesn't do shit for stuffy noses or coughs.
  
  Good Idea, but can wait:
  
  Video monitor - We went with a normal Foscam and put the tinyCam app on our phones for a few bucks.
  
  Small food processor - as said elsewhere, don't get the baby one; or just get the cheaper Bella one from Kohl's. Making baby food isn't that hard and it's a ton cheaper. If you've got a Nutribullet or similar, you're also good to go.

Pregnancy: Liked Old Navy Maternity I loved wearing foldover waist things like capri pants, skirts, and pants. Though for work I was able to keep wearing my pre-pregnancy pants as my fat redistributed and they are elastic waist anyway. And the Old Navy Maternity tank tops are amazing, I still wear them after giving birth. I also wore Poise pads to catch my pee leaks, they worked great.

Did not like Ginger gum, that shit's gross.

Postpartum: Liked Kotex pads. The squirt bottle they gave me at the hospital. Colace.

Did not like Always pads (fucking cheese grater). Those witch hazel pads didn't do much for me, neither did the numbing cream.

Baby Like Pampers Baby Dry diapers, Fisher Price Rock and Play, Nosefrida snotsucker, Fisher Price plug in swing, Chicco Keyfit 30, Chicco NextFit, Harmony Odyssey stroller, Infantino pouch feeding products, Vtech baby monitor, Cuisinart food processor, lightweight car seat toys, Ubbi diaper pail, IKEA high chair (I probably have more, but these are some of the things I love on a daily basis or have saved my sanity).

Did not like Swaddle blankets (specifically swaddling), moby wrap, boppy pillow, Graco battery operated swing, huggies diapers, and MAM bottles.

Bonus Mom Supplies Pump wipes (my pump room at work has no sink and these are perfect to use after pumping), leisure bra (I cut holes where my nipples are and I can double pump hands-free, so helpful!), and JuJuBe diaper bag (it's small and cute and I know where everything is now!)

Get one of these, seriously. So useful, and cute. People like buying useful and cute:

https://www.amazon.com/Boppy-Newborn-Lounger-Elephant-Love/dp/B014A7MABU?th=1

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I use this diaper pail and like it, it takes any garbage bags and I feel is better looking than some options out there:

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https://www.amazon.com/Ubbi-Saving-Special-Required-Locking/dp/B00821FLSU/ref=sr_1_2_s_it?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1537453291&sr=1-2&keywords=ubbi

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Diapers, wipes, crib sheets, crib mattress pads, changing pad, changing pad cover (depending on the kind of changing pad, some do not require them). Bottles,swing/bouncer, playmat. One of my son's early favorite was a kick and play piano:

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https://www.amazon.com/MooToys-Kick-Play-Newborn-Piano/dp/B07DWTMNKR/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1537453105&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=kick+and+play&psc=1

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Bath supplies, lotions, diaper creme. I would avoid putting clothes on there. If there is something super special you love, just buy it (if you can afford to). People will pick out whatever clothes/toyus/blankets they want. Stroller, carseat. People often refrain from asking for these more expensive things, but I think its fine. If it is something you would buy yourself, it is okay to ask for it. And honestly, the expensive stuff went off my registry first.

I love our monitor. It’s got a great picture, you can adjust the camera, the screen is clear, volume control is great. The downsides are that the battery doesn’t last as long as I’d like and it takes forever to charge. I usually just leave it plugged in all night so it doesn’t randomly die, which seems like it would be a great solution except there’s a bright as hell blue light that comes on when it’s all charged. So that wakes me up around 2-3am every night, since the monitor sits like 2 inches from my face on my nightstand. Lol Also, when our microwave is running, it disrupts the WiFi signal if the monitor is in the kitchen with us. Other than those things. it’s been great.

This is the one we have.

ETA: I realized I don’t think it’s actually connected thru WiFi because we frequently take it to my inlaws and don’t use their WiFi. I don’t know how it works. Magic, most likely. Either way, the microwave interrupts the signal.

Forest themed nursery. I wanted his room to be calm colors and used decorations that we already had in our home for the most part.

My top 5 items in the room:

1. The crib - ikea Crib crib
   We wanted something simple and affordable this checked both boxes.
   
   
2. Rocking Chair- Glider
   Loved the price and it’s my favorite chair in the house already.
   
   
3. Twin bed- Tuft and Needle . We have this mattress in our room and LOVE it so naturally because we needed to get a bed for the room we got the same one.
   
   
4. Book shelves- ikea
   We went with these because they seemed a little sturdier than the ikea spice racks.
   
   
5. Baby monitor- infant optics video monitor
   I liked that you can move the camera to see and zoom in and out as well. My SO also walked to the end of our street and still had full connection so the range is great.

Hubs and I finally had a night out sin baby #2 arrived. After her 4 week growth spurt and a wonder week she has been cluster feeding nonstop.

This is what I pumped in about 10 min after being gone for 5 hours! I was still going strong but didn't feel like changing out bottles for more. (Side note: I am MUCH more comfortable now!)

Shoutout to the [Haakaa manual pump](Haakaa Silicone Breastfeeding Manual Breast Pump Milk Pump 100% Food Grade Silicone BPA PVC and Phthalate Free https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F8W7CF0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_rxotybBR6HFTM) (or the boob grenade as I lovingly call it) for making my supply amazing!

Yay for your results! My son was born at 34 weeks, 4.5 pounds. It seems super small for people who aren't used to preemies, but as a NICU nurse, I can tell you those little ones are very feisty. Try not to worry too much about your cousin's baby :D

I'm not sure there's really any "cool" baby stuff, but here are some of my favorite random items:

• Nosefrida. Seriously, just buy this. You need it.
  
• Vick's rectal thermometer. Helpful for parents who aren't used to taking rectal temps. As you can see, you physically can't stick this in too far, so it seems less daunting. My only complaint is that it reads so quickly that occasionally it would read lower than I knew his temperature was. I would just repeat it and get the real result the second time around.
  
• Safety 1st nail clippers. Has a light and everything so you can see what you're doing. My friend would actually make me cut her daughter's nails with my clippers when she came to visit, lol.
  
  I also think everyone should have some sort of baby carrying device. If you get something with buckles (like an Ergo), make sure the seat of the carrier is wide enough to support your baby from knee to knee. Think an Ergo, not a Baby Bjorn.
  
  Hmm, that's all for now. I'll try to think of something cool ;)

None of this is magic but it all helps a little.

Boogie Mist Sterile Saline Nasal Spray for Baby and Kids Sensitive Noses Clear Congestion, Fresh Scent, 3.1 Ounce https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EWPQZ30/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_QRV3Bb7WR0VXB

VICKS BABY RUB 50 GM, 1.76 oz https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PRVLF6K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_xUV3BbG46AA3W

JOHNSON'S Soothing Vapor Bath 15 oz ( Pack of 2) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0057RKQ1E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_CVV3BbDTA7EN6

Baby Nasal Aspirator NoseFrida the Snotsucker by Fridababy – Baby Shower Gift and Registry essential https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00171WXII/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_7VV3BbYBQBA1Q

Vicks Mini Filter Free Cool Mist Humidifier Small Humidifier for Bedrooms, Baby, Kids Rooms, Auto-Shut Off, 0.5 Gallon Tank for 20 Hours of Moisturized Air, Use with Vicks VapoPads https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MOI5QUU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_oYV3BbGVZEZXH

I have a 6 month old right now... We have a ton of toys but here are a few examples of the only stuff he plays with right now.

blocks

Monkey teether

Rings

Rattle

He loves anything that crinkles, we have a crinkle book that came with his baby gym, that he doesn't like being under.... But he loves that book.

This can also wait too, but I highly recommend one of these, we started putting him in this thing at 4 months with a box under him so he could reach, he loves this thing and could bounce in it for hours.

There is no rush to buy toys as others have said. Tummy time should begin at birth and you could try to get toys that will hold LO’s attention in that position before they learn to reach for things:

• B&W books like this one
  
• A mirror that can be propped vertically at infant eye level
  
• A tummytime pillow in the same shape as Boppy but smaller, goes under newborn armpits
  
  Next up would be a playard (the Kick n Play Piano one was super popular in our Bumper group) to hang things overhead that they’ll eventually bat at or kick. The Manhattan Toys with lots of strings or loops are great first toys to grasp. You might also like some plastic chain links, which can be toys/teethers on their own at first and graduate to tools for tethering toys in the stroller/car seat.

Reddit is definitely a great resource. However, make sure she knows about babycenter.com. That is a great resource for new parents (mom & dad). Having a brand new baby at home can be a very stressful time. However, between all the screaming you and your wife will have some of the most precious and memorable experiences of your lives. Treasure those moments and the stressful times will feel worth the effort. Definitely pick up the Nose Frieda. It definitely helps having the right tool for the job. Also, pickup a copy of Be Prepared. It's a great (and funny) book for new dads.

100% this one. This was recommended to us by a friend (who does a lot of research on products usually), and we have found it to be invaluable. I've also noticed it at other people's houses and we always have a 'best baby monitor ever, right?' moment.

The range is great. We walked across the street and checked our mailbox when testing it. The picture quality is great, especially in the dark. And it's easy to add multiple cameras which is very handy. We had a camera on our boy's crib and his playpen so that we could still see him while washing bottles in the kitchen as he played.

Good job so far! Like most people were saying, don't pick him up and don't do check ins if he's not crying. The first two nights are the hardest and then it gets so much better. Have you thought about getting a video monitor to give you peace of mind? You can see them in the dark too. I love ours:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00ECHYTBI/ref=pd_aw_sim_75_of_27?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=HCRNTD85FVE65V3AX9W0
I think he will find the best sleeping position on his own. My girl prefers sleeping on tummy with her face in the mattress. At first I would go in to turn her but then she'd go back to the same position. It really freaked us out, so we bought a breathable mattress. It's been two months and it's still her favorite position. Hope tonight goes better. Keep up the good work!

I never had a dock a tot, but we use the shit out of our boppy infant lounger.

We got one for our shower with our first daughter along with the normal C shaped boppy, which we never used. We use it for bottle feeding and just setting her down when need be. As she grows and gets longer, her feet just hang over the age, so we used it with our first daughter until she was about a year old. There were times we let the kids sleep in it, but it's not recommended for sleeping (but you have to do what you have to do). I was always pretty comfortable putting the kids in it to sleep until they started rolling. It seemed to help with our second because she had a bit of reflux and she was propped up a bit.

I've literally washed it a million times, sewn the seams together twice (it gets a lot of use, not that it's cheaply made), it's traveled with us everywhere. We use it inside and outside, etc.

The only downside i've found is that my cat loves it, so we have to kick him off constantly.

this is going to sound ridiculous, but I use pre-fold cloth diapers. They're super absorbent and easy to wash. You can get them from amazon (here) or even Target/Walmart. Bonus: they're also great for cleaning other things and dusting.

Hmmm...idk how easily it would be to attach one, especially to the metal. I know it sounds odd, but we've always used a playard. Every section is removable and you can rearrange the entire thing to the dimensions you want. To make it work as a gate (to like block off the kitchen, for instance) we've just bended and folded around furniture. Anchoring behind heavy things my son can't move. The gate is placed between the wall and the heavy object, and then bent just so that it can't easily be moved, even if one of us trips over it and falls...which has happened lol. Currently it's anchored behind a washer and an old sewing machine table. Also when we need to place it somewhere else, it's really easy to move and folds in on itself, accordian style.

We've lived in two places since our son was born and neither really had an easy place to secure a gate. We kinda just got creative lol.

Lanolin! It's an occlusive like petrolatum, but it also absorbs through the skin. It's chemically very similar to the moisturizing layer our skin naturally produces. It's AMAZING. It gets me through my crazy-dry winter lips every year and got me through a course of accutane this summer.

One caution!: Lanolin comes from sheep (it's a waxy layer on sheep wool that's removed as a part of the woolmaking process) and if you buy unrefined lanolin, it'll kinda smell like farm animals. I think it's subtle enough, but if you're sensitive to smells you can buy refined lanolin, which is marketed to breastfeeding mothers, so you're going to have to deal with a tube that says "chapped nipples" on it.

Amazon links: Unrefined lanolin, refined lanolin


edit-- I just use lanolin at night. It keeps my lips nice and moisturized that they can take a long day of lipstick. When I was on Accutane, or occasionally in the depths of winter, I do lanolin all day and it has a nice gloss.

To add, you can get the video baby monitor cheaper on amazon than in store. We have one of these, and it's pretty good.

While it isn't cheap, it's less expensive than in-store ones. It can also be expanded pretty easily with more cameras, and the ability to change the lenses makes it pretty versatile. We've had ours for 3 years, and it's still great.

We used to live in a 2-story house, and it was invaluable to hear when the babies were stirring to run up and attend to them before they full woke and then couldn't get back to sleep :)

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.

Regalo 192-Inch Super Wide Adjustable Baby Gate and Play Yard, 4-In-1, Bonus Kit, Includes 4 Pack of Wall Mounts https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003VNKLIY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_FWmjDbFDEXWTP

This is the one I have 😁👌🏼
We have it drilled on either side of our living room and it stretches across nicely to keep the kids out of the kitchen. We bought two smaller Regalo brand gates for our doorways exiting the living room

This stuff is amazing - expensive as HELL but really amazing: CV Labs Skin Balm I've also had great luck with the Bite Agave Lip mask, although that is just as expensive and is less versatile in terms of using it on other dry patches. I'm also ordering some of the Lansinoh balm, which I've heard good things about and which is much much cheaper.

Baby food website reference. I'm into week four of introducing solids. Avocado (purée uncooked) was my first win (rice cereal was a total fail and I don't blame my little girl). Summer squash so far is a yum. Carrots were too bitter on their own so I mixed in parsnips. I thought it was delicious, my girl didn't. Im going to try parsnips solo as they're quite nutty and delicious. Pears (skinned, poached, puréed) were such a hit that I made small dallops to freeze and use them for teething in a baby mesh pop. and I plan on doing the same with sweet potato if it is also a hit. I make a bunch of different foods on Saturday and fill up my special freezer tray for the next two weeks. I'm really enjoying it. We went on one solid feeding a day (with one of our five 5 oz bottle feedings) for the first three weeks and on week four we do a morning solid / bottle and evening solid / bottle (plus another three bottle only feedings). I'm holding off on bananas as the sweet may make everything else a bit less desirable, but I really can't wait to try those too. Good luck and don't be discouraged!

The Boppy Newborn Lounger is a lifesaver for me. My LO is about 15 weeks and is now starting to grow out of it. It's basically a round cushion with an indent so that LO can nestle in it. It's perfect for interaction or naps (It says not to let them sleep on it, but that thing was the only way I got any sleep the first two weeks. I'd pop her in there and put her in the middle of my bed and curl up around it.). Just an all around good way to keep her close without having to constantly keep her in your arms. But honestly now that she's starting to try to roll onto her belly, I probably will end up giving it to a friend of mine that's having her baby soon!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B014A7MABU/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1491913749&sr=8-1&keywords=boppy+newborn+lounger

Kimono-style shirts for while cord is still attached.

https://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Birdseye-3-Ply-Prefold-Diapers/dp/B007VBYVWE/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1487257675&sr=8-1&keywords=cloth+diaper
These are great as burp cloths and wiping up milk while feeding.

Muslin blankets are our favorite. I got a 4-pack of Aden & Anais blankets and we use them every day. They were good for swaddling early on. They don't take up a lot of space.

Scratch mitts! Your baby will scratch its face otherwise.

We barely used our bathtub. You could probably skip it for now and just sponge bathe your baby as needed. They don't get really dirty and frequent baths dries out their skin anyway. I sponge bathe once or twice a week.

A few pacifiers to try. Our kiddo likes the Dr. Browns.

Saline spray for when you use the Nose Frieda.

Cold mist humidifier if your air is dry.

Nursing pillow. Nipple ointment. Nursing tanks for you.

I just use a towel on the bed for diaper changes.

Subscribe to Enfamil and Similac and they'll send you formula sample containers, so you can just keep something on hand in case you need to or choose to supplement at some point.

DAPPLE! This cleans bottle parts a lot better than regular dish soap.

This has been so wonderful for our 10 month old! It's my favorite thing so far! My daughter has six teeth, 4 on the top in the front, and two on the bottom in the front... meaning, she can take BIG bites out of anything (even those hard biter biscuits) and then, of course since she only has teeth in the front, can't mash the food up to swallow. This thing is great! I can stick some fruit in it, hand it to her, and she's happy for the next half hour. We even put a small piece of Easter ham, a green bean and a bite of scalloped potatoes in there for her on Sunday and she absolutely loved it! Until she gets more teeth, I'm sticking with this handy little tool and those Gerbers Puffs and Yogurt Puffs for snack time. My heart can't handle any more choking scares!

BUY THIS NOW!!!

I am not exaggerating when I say that this is a lifesaver. It may seem expensive at about $35, but it is worth absolutely every penny. I’m sure there are other “white noise machines” that you can find, but I own two of these and they work on every baby I’ve ever tried it on (this is what I get people for baby showers).

I first learned that this existed about two months after our first child was born and it was a lifesaver. I brought it to the hospital when my wife was giving birth to our second child a little over a year ago.

The attending nurse was so surprised by it, she asked if she could borrow it for an hour. Of course I said yes. She came back 45 minutes later totally astonished. She had brought it into the nursery where five babies were really struggling to fall asleep and were keeping each other awake.

She said that within two minutes of using the thing two of the babies had fallen asleep and the other three had calmed down. Additionally, within five minutes all five of them were asleep.

The thing has two settings: one for duration and one for volume. The duration can be set to either off, 15 minutes, or 30 minutes. It automatically shuts off after those time frames. The volume is simply a swivel and can be adjusted as needed.

You will not regret this. It’s the one essential purchase you will make.

If you plan on putting your baby in daycare, you definitely need a double electric. As another mentioned, check your insurance!! But if not, I'd still urge you to buy one like the Spectra s2 which is $159 on Amazon right now. Even though it's a large upfront cost....don't forget that formula will cost you so much more in the long run. So you'd be making an initial large investment to then save way more later. Keep in mind that formula can cost anywhere from $70-$150 a month....depending on what you buy.

Don't listen to your bf. You have plenty of milk! Supplementing with formula is only necessary if you weren't making enough or you don't want to breastfeed.

I agree with getting a haakaa to catch the drips. Make sure to buy from haakaa USA. There are fakes that aren't guaranteed that pass themselves off as haakaa.

Haakaa Silicone Breastfeeding Manual Breast Pump Milk Pump 100% Food Grade Silicone BPA PVC and Phthalate Free https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F8W7CF0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_3NaOBbW4JV9T5

One of the knockoffs which was actually a good and trustworthy one was the naturebond but I believe it's been moved likely for copyright.

For a haakaa, you use it either to catch drips after a feed and you're still feeling engorged or during a feed on the non nursing side.

But want to add that it is not a replacement for a double electric. Use a double electric for when your kid is in daycare and gets a bottle. The safe rule of thumb to maintain milk supply is nurse/pump as often as baby eats. For most babies....that's probably 8-12 times in a 24 hr period. you've got a big one so I'd expect your number closer to 10.

To build a stash, you can pump directly after you feed or do 1 additional pump in the morning about an hour after his morning nurse.

Does your bf explain at all why he suddenly wants to formula feed? I bet it's bc it bothers him to see something he sexualizes leaking...but boobs were made to feed babies first before they were ever meant to amuse men....just saying.

Rock him to sleep, bounce him to sleep (worked best for us) or let him sleep in your arms! My sons been napping and sleeping in his crib for months and yours will too eventually but right now hes still very new and seems to need you nearby. You can't spoil or create bad habits at this age! My son napped in our arms for awhile but slept great in his crib at night. Naps are just harder for babies because its brighter and theres more things going on. My son definitely had some FOMO going on!

At your sons age he should only be awake between 1 hour to 1 hour 45 minutes, watch him for cues that hes getting sleepy. For my son its rubbing his eyes and tugging on his ears. You want to start trying to put them to sleep just before they reach their awake limit so they don't get overtired.

Also, my son stopped enjoying having his arms swaddled to his side and slept much better with this: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Dream-Swaddle-Original-Small/dp/B0081GJ038/ref=asc_df_B0081GJ038/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=241927338949&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17321934209130385377&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9033274&hvtargid=pla-365069357173&psc=1

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?

I like to keep it Simple. We live in a Two bedroom apartment, and we used this same set up for Big sister. I was given a beautiful Bassinet with my First child and I actually didn’t even use it because this little travel Crib similar to this worked better. I didn’t have to get up and down all night, I could simply sit up/reach down and get to her, once she was asleep it made it less tempting to co-sleep (just not a safe option for me and my husband)

I’ve used a diaper genie in the past, but I’ve found a paper bag with plastic bag worked just fine, just swap it out every few days.

With my first child we where in a 1 bedroom so a changing table was a luxury that we passed on and just decided to change her where ever, the couch, the floor, the bed, we managed just fine.

The swing we Choose again, in mind for small living is a version of This swing

The clothes organizer works just fine for all her small clothes

Don’t feel bad for going super simple! Once she’s to big or unsafe for the little crib, we do have big sisters crib waiting for her. 😊

So, she's 1. You can do sleep training with her, and she will get better about sleeping in general. There is a sleep regression just after 1 year though and that may be why she's being so difficult to get to sleep. I'm really sorry that you are going through this with no help and no support. Do you have a friend or family member nearby who could watch her for a night so you can get some much-needed rest? The sleep deprivation will really do you in temper-wise. Can you put her in a playpen or a babyproofed room and use something like a door monkey to keep her locked in and safely watching some cartoons while you get some sleep? This may also be a good time to give her some melatonin 30 mins before bedtime (kid doses only, you can find them at the pharmacy in a bottle specifically dosed for kids with 1mg or something like that). She will sleep better. I used it for my kid when he was having a sleep regression and it helped a bit. You need some sleep though, so you can be a more patient mom. this is a hard age even if you were getting enough sleep.

We have the pack n play but we plan to co-sleep with one of the super cheap in bed bassinets for the first 3 months so that it's easier for me to breastfeed and what-not without having to actually get out of bed

This is the one we have; full disclosure our bed is a king and I am very small so this fits between us comfortably but I've heard other people say that it doesn't leave them much room in their bed

We'll be using the graco pack n play with the raised mattress setting after the first few months until he hits the 15lb wt limit for the raised position, then down it goes to the typical bottom placement

These are technically cloth diapers but we used them as burp rags and they're the BEST. So, so soft. And you pretty much can't have too many of them because as a new parent you're going through so much laundry.

My son is 4 and we still use them. I put one in his backpack and we use it to wipe runny noses at the park, clean up spills, emergency napkins, etc.

Also a Nose Frieda. Trust.

[regalo super yard](Regalo 192-Inch Super Wide Adjustable Baby Gate and Play Yard, 4-In-1, Bonus Kit, Includes 4 Pack of Wall Mounts https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003VNKLIY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_a8K0CbB3DGQMJ)

You're going to want to adjust your search terms. Look for play yard.

Please look at the specs on this one and see if it will suit.

I'm thinking teething too, but whether that's the case or not, try a mesh baby feeder -- something like this. Put some fruit in the freezer, like a bit of banana or watermelon, then when it's nice and cold, put it in the mesh feeder. If your son is teething, the cold mesh will feel great on his gums, but even if he's not, he'll get some solid food through the mesh. If he is teething, the cold will numb his gums a bit, and then he might take the bottle. This worked really well with my daughter.

We had a ton of success with the SwaddleMe Sleeper. The metal frame made me feel more comfortable with him being in the bed with us, it felt like it gave him some protection from stray pillows/blankets/people. We also made sure the the sheets and blankets were either down at our waist level or tucked them under the bassinet.
It was also really nice because he is a very long baby and he seemed way more comfortable in that then the actual bassinet.

My LC diagnosed a tongue and lip tie which we got taken care of on day 3 of her little life - there was an immediate difference. Up to about 10 seconds of pain while initially latching is considered normal (I would usually cry), but it should not persist beyond the initial latch on. (That eventually stopped though!)


If you don't have them, these were everything in the first two weeks - get two sets and keep them in the fridge!

Gel Pads


I had the LC teach my husband how to help me get baby latched properly because I didn't seem to have enough hands until baby got a hang of nursing and that was super useful. I would usually hold baby in one hand and my boob in the other while husband maneuvered baby's head jnto position and jammed it into my boob as soon as she opened her mouth wide enough. If you can, have LC come to you!

We got something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Regalo-192-Inch-Super-Wide-White/dp/B003VNKLIY/ref=sr_1_6_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1502910571&sr=8-6&keywords=baby+pen

Or you can combine a few of these:
https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Infant-Surround-6-Panel-PlaySafe/dp/B000G1YW98/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1502910571&sr=8-4&keywords=baby+pen

We put it over a foam mat and our son was happy. Eventually set him to free range once he really got moving.

Good luck.

Foam Mat:
https://www.amazon.com/ProSource-Puzzle-Alphabet-Numbers-Tiles/dp/B00DQEKHUA/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1502910700&sr=1-4&keywords=baby+foam+mat

The foam mat now is being used for the slide we opted to keep inside for the occasional heart attack er. i mean fun...

My guy is 10.5 months and is only JUST now verging on cutting his first two teeth. We eat everything that's soft enough. I give him cheese, soft breads (in very small pieces because they can stick to the roof of their mouths), teething wafers, yogurt bites, eggs, meats (as long as they're not too spicy, salty or covered in anything) - he's quite a fan of brisket. He eats chicken, beef, spaghetti, sausage, sweet potatoes, corn...

For mobile babies, carbohydrates are acceptable. It's fuel. In fact almost all fruits and many, many vegetables are pure carbohydrates. Cabbage, peas, beans, corn, carrots, sweet potatoes, just to name a few!

Full-fat yogurt is great too, cutting fruit into small pieces or even putting it into a little mesh teething thing like this is a great option.

Not from the UK but got this one from Amazon.

Liked this model as the video is just local between the camera and monitor, and not streamed over the internet.

Would recommend based on use so far, though to be fair it is on the pricey end.

edit: bought from US Amazon so in our case need to have the camera plugged into a power adapter...which is ok for us as camera stays plugged in all the time anyway. The portable monitor just charges via USB so easier to use existing USB chargers around the house. Also night vision works well.

This sounds weird, but the cheapest easiest way to get this stuff is nipple cream for women who are breastfeeding. They use it because it’s awesome for moisturizing but it’s safe if baby accidentally gets some. Lip moisturizer with lanolin will be like three times the cost of nipple cream and it’s the exact same stuff. I recommend this one.

https://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-Lanolin-Breastfeeding-Soothing-Essentials/dp/B005MI648C/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=nipple+cream&qid=1564173135&s=gateway&sr=8-3

Yes - my mother used to say: “give me your hands.”
Now I’m an Esthetician and I get to tell other people to do that.

But yes, please, if you feel like you need to touch your face, try cleansing it instead! Get yourself some of the soft 3 ply baby diapers from Gerber on Amazon, wash your face and remove, gently with a lukewarm one of these as a washcloth. Your skin will feel much better!!

Cloth Diaper = Luxurious Feeling Washcloth

The Love to Dream swaddle was a huge help for us because there's no way it can bunch around the mouth! We also like it because it zips up from the bottom for easy diaper changing and it allows LO to suck on his hands for self soothing. If you prefer for your LOs arms to be down try the Halo Sleepsack Swaddle which also stays put pretty well, you just have to pull it tight. They have them in fleece as well if you want your LO to be a bit warmer.

My sister uses a play yard to fence off her living room. It can be connected to fully enclose an area, or spread out to block a wide doorway. If you straighten it out fully it loses a lot of the stability, but if you zig-zag it, it should be fairly secure.

This super long gate also has pretty good reviews.

I got this for my daughter after our very first daddy-daughter errand day. (She was good - didn't cry and just chilled in the Baby Bjorn while I went shopping, so this was a "reward" - read: it was an excuse for me to buy her a toy.)

She was 2 months old then, 4 months old now... It's consistently been her favorite toy. It has a soft rattle, is easy for her to grip, and apparently tastes pretty good as well.

Yes, yes, yes to the Nose Frida Snot Sucker. I had such issues with my kids and congestion and those bulb syringes never worked. But a warning, it does a good job and feels weird. Don't be surprised if your kid does NOT like it but their easy breathing is your reward.


This is what worked for us:

• Using Nose Frida along with saline drops
  
  
• Elevate head of bassinet/crib slightly (fold up a baby blanket or place a book under the mattress)
  
• Use a cool mist humidifier

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!!!

I really like the door monkey. It's a bit expensive, but it's worth it for the improved air flow and protection of people & walls. I would also recommend checking out KIScords for your cabinets. They make two different models and I've been happy with both.

For a Baby Monitor - I cannot recommend this one enough. https://amzn.com/B00ECHYTBI It's a little bit pricier than the others but it's works great! We bought a different one to start out with but it had really poor reception in the house. (As in it stopped working one room away). So we returned it and got this one. The video clarity is great, you can move the camera around which is awesome once your LO starts moving. And it travels well. But really it's their customer service team that sold me. I 'might' have broken the camera by dropping it. They replaced it for free even though I admitted it was my fault.

I thought this may help my fellow new parenters out there. If you're anything like me, you scoured the internet checking off every "must-have" baby items list before your LO was born, but I still ended up having Amazon deliver things about every other day for the first couple months.

As a disclaimer, I'm not saying these are MUST HAVE items. I just went through my Amazon purchases and I'm writing down some things that I purchased in those 3 AM wee hour Amazon shopping sprees.

Here's a compilation of everything that I felt I missed in my preparation for my baby girl:

• An electric nail file. I was terrified to cut her nails myself. This is a safe and easy alternative.
  
• A Swaddle UP. This allows her hands to be by her face, which she preferred her first month or two.
  
• Friedababy MediFrida. My baby had a rough go of reflux and was diagnosed with Ranitidine pretty quickly. This helped us give her doses with no fuss!
  
  
• Comfy shorts for me. I was unprepared for my post C-Section body and clothing options.
  
  
• Gripe Water / Colic Drops. My reflux baby had some rouuuuugh nights. These helped? Maybe? Witching hour SUCKS.
  
• A bigger swaddle that ZIPS. Screw trying to unvelcro my child out of her swaddle quietly at 2 AM.
  
• A mirror to help with tummy time. She still hates tummy time. But she does like looking at herself for a while. So I count that as a win.
  
• MORE. BOOKS. you don't have enough. I promise. After the 15th time of reading "The Rainbow Fish" you'll appreciate a change of pace. I personally recommend, "The Wonky Donkey."
  
• Trial and error pacis. Your kid will have a preference and you'll just have to figure out which. Once you figure it out, buy extras.
  
  
• Bibs / ABSORBENT Burp Cloths. Again... You don't have enough. And the little tiny rags that Gerber tries to sell at Target will not do the trick. Get some THICK in your burp cloth regimen.
  
  ---
  
  I hope this helps! Let me know if there's anything you would add to the list.

I don't think there's a point to video monitors until you have a mobile toddler. When a baby is in his crib, sound is good enough. You know he can't get out, if he starts crying, go check on him.

That being said, we have one for my toddler who is almost 2. We got it for him when we transitioned him to his toddler bed so we could keep an eye on him if he got up out of bed. We first got the DXR-5 and it was great. We used it for a while and then upgraded to the DXR-8 because you could move the camera around.

I like the DXR-5 because it has a white noise function that will turn the sound off unless something happens over a certain decibel. The DXR-8 doesn't have that and the sound is always on (and it seems like there's always some static noises). You can talk to the baby through the DXR-8 though, and both have great night vision.

Same thing happened here. 1 week into daycare got a cold, which then turned into an ear infection.

Anyway, we got the Nosefrida which is 100% better then a bulb syringe (and 100% more disgusting, but it pulls out so much more snot). Just put some saline drops in before to loosen everything up.

Also, as per a recommendation of a friend, we rubbed Vicks BabyRub on her feet before bed, put some socks on, and the coughing definitely decreased at night. We asked our ped. before we did, and though she never heard of doing it, she didn't see a problem with it. Just make sure it is the Vicks BABYRUB, it is safe for 3 months+ in age.

As some of the others have chimed in, formula or breast milk is best at this age. About 4 months old I begin giving my son small spoonful taste of soup or puree or even a piece of something to chew on (like a pickle or lemon or apple etc) And it wasn't until 6 months that we really started once or twice a day giving him a small meal. You have to watch out though, because at this young, water is dangerous to their little bodies because their kidneys I just figuring out how to filter out all the extra water.

Good luck to you! I'm starting those little systems on something new is always difficult

EDIT: turns out that my source is often discredited and so here is another link to a study about babies and water intoxication https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/100/6/e4

I realized that I didn't mention that we use those mesh net chewy things and stuck the snackers inside for him to gnaw on! It makes me look like a fool! https://www.amazon.com/Munchkin-Fresh-Food-Feeder-Green/dp/B000GK5XY2

Thanks to all you parents for being ever vigilant to make sure others have the best information!

Mine prefers the Halo sleepsack, but we got a Love to Dream swaddle too which works pretty well: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0081GJ038/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Ft5TAb05BYX40

Any toy that's sorting, stacking, and able to carry and move from place to place (a basket and Easter eggs at the moment). Leapfrog makes a tea set that she loves (but you'll be singing the songs for days). Sidewalk chalk and the box it came in. 360 sippy cup. Sturdy Velcro shoes. Extra utensils and cute bibs to take to restaurants.


LeapFrog Musical Rainbow Tea Party https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DCWM2ZE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_GxaRCb4FFGH64

PUMA Baby Smash Glitz Glamm Velcro Kids Sneaker -my LO is currently wearing these out and they are easy off and on. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074P83XNH/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_jEaRCbEHRWAW1

Munchkin Miracle 360 Trainer Cup, Green/Blue, 7 Ounce, 2 Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MRZIFD0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_NFaRCbBJRH0NJ

You can find it in the baby section at most pharmacies, though I personally just order it off amazon. It’s marketed as nipple cream (not sexy but it works like a charm).

I also use it on my lips and it’s wonderful! I layer it over Aquaphor or use it by itself under lipstick.

I ALSO use it on dry spots when needed! Lanolin is my favorite multi purpose product. As with anything, do patch test it since some people do have a Lanolin allergy.

My daughter is 7.5 months.

These were hands down the best burp cloths and we had many different types.


She lived in gowns for the first month. They're the easiest outfits to change and the quickest during middle of the night diaper changes.


Halo swaddles were our favorite. They were easy to use, and the easiest ones to transition out of when the time came.


A sound machine. We have the Hatch. Babies are SO freaking loud at night. Her noises constantly woke me up. Then when she got older she started to sleep longer with it being on loud. The light on the Hatch is great for middle of the night diaper changes.


If you're formula feeding get a formula pitcher. It saves a lot of time and reduces the foam in bottles so it reduces gas.

This could be a teething thing or just a developmental thing.

You should try some of those mesh feeders with frozen fruit or frozen purees in them.. they're a bit messy but they're great for getting some nutrition into teething babies.

https://www.amazon.com/Fresh-Food-Feeder-Pack-Green/dp/B000GK5XY2

Also, full length bibs with sleeves (Ikea has awesome ones) are great for messy meals too.

Someone bought us a Nest Cam, but I returned it... I didn't really see the advantage to clogging my wifi, or having to use a cell phone as the monitor. We got one of these instead... The good part is that it's not on the wi-fi, the monitor never loses signal, and it doesn't need a cell phone.

I don't remember if the nest cam was movable, but with ours, we can also turn the camera if our baby crawled to the other side of the crib, which is nice. Also, it has a microphone so you can talk to your baby without getting up (although i think it will only be useful when he's a little older).

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!

As for Child Locks on cabinets:

i recomend these: https://www.amazon.com/Safety-1st-Magnetic-Locking-System/dp/B004GCJMLG

they are a bit more expensive, but rather easy to install (i did all 20 of mine in less than an hour and a half, and got a lot faster once I got the hang of it) and unless they have the key (which you can place up high on your fridge, out of reach) there is no way they are opening those locks.

best part is if you know you have to be in and out of a cabinet a lot (say, cooking and thats where your supplies are) you can turn the lock 'off' for a bit, with just a push of a button.

Very great locks.

Unless you're very dehydrated (and hardly anybody is), just drinking water probably won't do much. Try using a gentle lip scrub in the shower, and then a really thick layer of some kind of balm. I flip between Cerave's healing ointment in a big tube, and plain [lanolin nipple cream] (https://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-Breastfeeding-Salve-Lanolin-1-41/dp/B005MI648C/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1485505327&sr=8-3&keywords=nipple+cream), which has a cult following as a lip balm for a reason - it's cheap and very good for chronic chapped lips. And changing your toothpaste to a super gentle one might help too - the sodium lauryl sulfate in some toothpastes could be irritating your lips.

One thing though: no matter what you do, the problem isn't going to go away immediately. When my lips would get like this, it takes at least a week or two of constantly applying lanolin (and a thick layer at night) and a gentle scrub to make them feeling good again. The skin needs time to heal. And if you're ever outside, I'd recommend Aquaphor's lip treatment with SPF - even minor sun damage can make it harder for the skin to heal itself.

I assembled this cart for our living room, and I thought y'all would appreciate it. We also considered naming it the T&A cart, but "boob & butt" won out.

• Cart: 3-tier rolling cart from Target. I went with this instead of the ever-popular Raskog from IKEA because our local IKEA didn't have the colors we wanted in stock.
  
• Butt: diapers, wipes, IKEA hedgehog toy for diaper time entertainment, Pueen pump dispenser (yasss, Pueen) and CVS premium cotton squares for water-only cleanups, dog poop bags and dispenser for poopy diapers, tube of Vaseline as meconium shield and Boudreaux's butt paste
  
• Boobs: rolled receiving blankets to use as burp cloths, Bebe Au Lait nursing cover for when we got company, Lanisoh lanolin for da nips, Lanisoh disposable nursing pads, Bamboobies washable nursing pads, Lanisoh soothies gel pads, Avent comfort breast shells, bottled water, and Graze snacks in the back. When baby arrives I'll store my Kindle here, too.
  
  The bottom shelf just has extra diapers, wipes, and nursing pads.

I hung toys we already had from the arch on our pack and play to approximate a play mat like that. These rings are inexpensive and endlessly useful and entertaining. My son is 14 months old and still loves to chew on them, try to pull them apart and wave them around.

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. ;)

Not sure what your living space is like but we have this and created a penned off area
Regalo 192-Inch Super Wide Adjustable Baby Gate and Play Yard, 4-In-1, Bonus Kit, Includes 4 Pack of Wall Mounts https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B003VNKLIY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_eQA8Bb39ZJ8HG

Leak proof is a necessity. My toddler tries his best to dump out whatever he can. That being said, when I first started transitioning him, he did not get it! Wouldn't go for a straw either. We ended up going with a NUK soft spout (as close to a bottle as you can get while still being a sippy) https://smile.amazon.com/NUK-Fashion-Elephants-Learner-5-Ounce/dp/B00BEVSSDA/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1501782954&sr=8-1&keywords=nuk+sippy.

Once he got the hang of that we switched him over to the munchkin 360. Love that cup. It's the least spillable cup I've found, and he likes it because it makes him feel like a big boy.
https://smile.amazon.com/Munchkin-Miracle-Trainer-Green-Ounce/dp/B00MRZIFD0/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1501783093&sr=1-4&keywords=munchkin+miracle+360+cup

Definitely a yes on the handles too.

I recommend this one:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000BNCA4K/ref=redir_mdp_mobile

My 4 month old loves it because she doesn't have the dexterity to put something in her mouth directly yet (except her hands.. She LOVES to shove those in there). This one is great because she can just pull it towards her and something chewy will land in her mouth.

I use enfamil a+ powder and I legit tried it because I was curious about what I was feeding my baby - it tastes like milk. Richer than regular milk even - and it smelled nice. I mixed up some simlac once and just smelled it and thought 'wow... I don't think that will taste good so never mind'. I haven't tried any other brands because I was so impressed with the enfamil powder.

I was cautious about it at first because the pre-mixed enfamil was gross, but it was what the nurses had to supplement my twins while they were in the NICU and I was trying to get my milk supply better.

Also - I do kinda agree that straws are not great - to my knowledge they are not as good for developing teeth and for the oral coordination for chewing and swallowing or drinking from a regular cup. However, if you don't want to get her drinking from a bottle (or she doesn't like it) maybe try the trainer style sippy cups - they are cup shaped like an adult cup but have a silicone insert in the lid that prevents spills and your baby just sucks on the edge of the cup to get liquid out. My heath nurse told me that its better for an infants developing teeth than a sippy cups with spouts or straws (also IMO straws just let a kiddo drink too much too quick and they get the idea to suck on EVERY STRAW so they will try to grab your drink to suck on the straw too...).

Anyway, the trainer cups are what my twins are learning to use - they are 6mos and just starting solids - and they are getting the idea pretty quick just like how to use a spoon. (I've been doing BLW and giving a variety of foods and textures not just puree as I want them to figure out feeding themselves and having those skills)

Add to your wish list a Nosefrida nasal aspirator, aka a snot snucker.

American stores only sell ball aspirators which do a poor job, aren't transparent so you can't see how poor a job they're doing, and are difficult to properly clean.

In virtually every other developed nation, parents use some variation of an aspirator like the Nosefrida (in one country they actually use an aspirator that hooks up to a vacuum hose!). It looks disgusting, but every parent I've given one to thanks me a year or two later and tells me they're still using it. IMHO, it's the best baby shower gift, and you never have to worry that someone else will give the same gift.

And skip any battery-powered nasal aspirators. They're less effective and exist only because manufacturers/distributors are convinced Americans will never accept a real snot sucker.

How it works: insert the aspirator into the opening of the baby's nostril. The aspirator (which is really just a big tube with a tapered tip) is attached to a long thinner tube and a filter. Suck on the other end of the tube, literally sucking the snot out of your sick baby's nose. Apply as much or as little force as is needed.

It's oodles better than multiple repeated, half-effective attempts using a ball aspirator. Both products make your baby cry, but one actually frees up the baby's breathing, and quickly at that.

I've heard BITE's Agave lip mask is amazing. If you have money to drop for it (they also have a mini gift set with their lip exfoliator), then I would try it out. I don't have money to shell out for it, so keep this in mind:

Lanolin is the mask's active ingredient (it's listed first). It's the same thing used in nipple creams for breastfeeding mothers. I'd suggest purchasing Lansinoh and see where it goes from there. Plus, you can use it on cracked knees and elbows!

If you want to splurge on a yummy lip mask that you can't resist licking off your lips, then buy the BITE product. :)

Hooray, congrats!

It can be super painful at first! 4-6 weeks was about when I finally experienced that breakthrough moment with my oldest, and I'm so not looking forward to doing it all over again!

A nurse in my Mother's Group suggested hyrdogel pads to help your nips feel better in between feedings- they really, really helped me:

https://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-Soothies-Breastfeeding-Mothers-Count/dp/B002KGHUL4/ref=pd_lpo_75_lp_t_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=859ZFQ7CNM1V4WRRYJR8

Everything I'm recommending can be bought on Amazon fairly cheaply:

1st Cleanser (PM only to get rid of sunscreen or makeup): The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Cleansing Rich Oil Dry Skin

2nd Cleanser: Cerave hydrating Cleanser

Hydrating Toner: [Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner] (https://www.amazon.com/Preparation-Alcohol-Paraben-Cruelty-Eco-friendly/dp/B00PGOFYG0) or
Hada Labo Rohto Hadalabo Gokujun Hyaluronic Lotion Moist

Medium Moisturizer: Cerve PM Moisturizing Lotion

Heavy Moisturizer: Benton Snail Bee High Content Steam Cream

Sleeping Pack: Cosrx Ultimate Rice Overnight Mask

Sheet Mask: Benton Snail Bee High Content Sheet Mask, illi masks, MBD masks (these might be out of your price range as they are between $1-3 per use).

Sunscreen: [Biore Kids Sunscreen] (https://www.amazon.com/Japan-Health-Personal-Care-carefree/dp/B019IDQ57G)

Lips: Lanolin

Makeup
BB: Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream #13 (RP), Mizon Snail Repair Blemish Balm
Cushion: Innisfree
Concealer: Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer

Hi! I make my own hammocks and my girls used to chew through them so fast I couldn't keep up with making new ones. So, I made a couple of adjustments that seem to help.

1. I sew a big X through the flat sections of hammocks. This keeps them from chewing holes and burrowing in between layers of the hammocks. They used to burrow even in pocket hammocks, but now they reach that seem and stop chewing. Since they've learned that trick I've been able to keep a hammock stockpile and actually wash and reuse them.
   
2. I use plastic baby rings to hang my hammocks. They're an add on item on Amazon and easy to use and replace. I probably have at least 100 of them in rotation. They're cute and colorful and my rats lost interest in chewing them after a couple weeks. I've been using them for a year now with no problems.
   
   Bright Starts Lots of Links Accessory Toy: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001ABZGU2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_qjjMzbVKPZGAQ
   
   You can see in this picture how I just punch a hole in the hammock itself to attach the ring. I used to make loops for hanging the rings but my girls loved chewing through them: https://imgur.com/gallery/ms9rd

oball for sure. LO likes playing with that, and the plastic links https://www.amazon.com/Bright-Starts-Lots-Links-Accessory/dp/B001ABZGU2

Those plus play gym and a few board books propped up = entertained for days.

Keep in mind that as kids grow, they see the same toys in completely different ways. So, although it seems boring to you - she might actually really enjoy things for a long time!

We did just get our 4/5mo LO a jumper. He's an early sitter/loves to stand assisted, so we thought it was time. We only use it for about 10-20 min at a time, but he LOVES it!

Thanks for the advice!! And for the Silicone Breast Pump!! link for the u.s.

I actually had no idea that this was even a thing until my mom had mentioned something to me the other day. She told me I would have to put a towel or something over my other breast while the baby was eating. I had NO IDEA!! So, this thing is going on my registry.

Also, she's SUPER ADORABLE!! I love those eyes!!

A NoseFrida or similar nasal aspirator would be good to help clear congestion. We use the HydraSense brand aspirator with a baby saline spray and it's SO effective. Once you get over the ick factor you realize it's a great thing. The HydraSense has a little disposable paper filter on it that prevents any material from being sucked into your mouth.

The pains definitely ease up. Use all the lanolin you can get for those cracked nipples! (Or, I really like earth mama natural nipple butter) And it will take a few weeks for your supply to figure itself out, but eventually you will start to worry why your boobs aren't hard any more and if it means your supply is dipping (it's normal and no, your boobs are just figuring out how much to produce and at what time). Warm compresses on your boobs help.

I recommend getting a haakaa milk catcher or similar type of non-pump device to catch those flood gates of milk and save it! You don't really want to pump a lot right now because that will just increase your supply more and more.

This stuff is the shit. It doesn't smell and isn't sticky like regular lanolin, and it's definitely safe for lips. I use this when nothing else is working or to help heal up the end of a cold sore. It's the best.

I recommend [Dr. Dan's Cortibalm] (https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Dans-Cortibalm-Balm-Count/dp/B00DME6W76/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1520993027&sr=8-4&keywords=dr+dans+cortibalm), it should help with the swelling. On top of that put lanolin - I use this [one]
(https://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-Breastfeeding-Moisturizer-Preservative-Hypoallergenic/dp/B005MI648C/ref=sr_1_6_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1520992749&sr=8-6&keywords=lanolin). The [Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask] (https://www.amazon.com/LANEIGE-SLEEPING-Berry-Sleeping-Treatment/dp/B018AYHZX2/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_194_bs_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=6CE1FFJBSM6B0QN5JPNK) is also great. I've been using all of those products and my lips are looking better than they did before accutane. Also, I get buying three things isn't realistic for some folks, so I would suggest getting the Dr. Dan's and putting vaseline over it.

Baby prison. I got basically an indoor fence, set it up around get play rug. Best $90 spent. She practices pulling up and cruising on the bars, I get to do chores without worrying about her crawling around and putting things in her mouth.

This is the one I got:

Regalo 192-Inch Super Wide Adjustable Baby Gate and Play Yard, 4-In-1, Bonus Kit, Includes 4 Pack of Wall Mounts https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003VNKLIY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_WmhsDb3N14GWA

The ones with the magnet locks are awesome. They shut off when you don't need them and are easy to open when they are locked with the key, we have one in each room. Also when they are locked the door doesn't budge at all so the kiddo won't incessantly jiggle the cabinet door. We only have them on the really important cabinet doors. The rest he can get into like the pots and pans and he did for a few weeks but the newness wore off and now he doesn't bother them.

The best is to just secure as you go. Kids will find something to play with but in a few weeks they'll forget it and find something else to mess with so sometimes it's not even worth rearranging.

Is it really that good? I've heard good things about it, but have been hesitant to actually trying it :s My lips are definitely dry, but they aren't red and inflamed like some of the extreme cases I've seen people on Accutane go through. I'm a mess without Aquaphor on me all the time, but it always feels good when I re-apply it about every hour and a half. However, I feel like it's just sitting on my lips, as oppose to actually doing something. Also, is this the lanolin you're talking about?

We liked the 360 ones, but they taught him to bite on cup rims, so we phased those out.

Hands down, these work best for us. Easy to clean and no spilling or dripping at all. Not even when it gets thrown.

If your wife is planning to nurse, she needs lanolin cream for her nipples, and also either nipple shells like [these] (http://www.amazon.com/Medela-SoftShells-Breast-Inverted-Nipples/dp/B001XDKTXQ/ref=br_it_dp_o_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2ASXZDZYVCW83&coliid=IQ61JE9TGHYQY) to help protect her chapped nipples from her clothing, or gel pads like [these] (http://www.amazon.com/Soothies-Gel-Pads-2-Count/dp/B002KGHUL4/ref=sr_1_2?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1371531566&sr=1-2&keywords=nipple+soothers) or, preferably, both. Those poor boobies get really, really sore in the first few days.

Plus, as someone else said, either nursing tank tops or simple nursing bras. Don't get specific size nursing bras (like 36C) yet because you have no idea what size they will be once her milk comes in, just just find one or two that are "medium" or "large." She'll have to go out and get the right size in a week or two when everything is established.

A nursing pillow, like a boppy, is also handy, but definitely not required. It helps with positioning and arm support during marathon nursing sessions.

Not nursing related, but one of those inflatable butt donuts can feel pretty good on tattered and torn lady bits. So can pain relief spray and witch hazel. And a squirt bottle to use instead of wiping - my hospital provided that. And colace (stool softener).