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

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

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

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

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


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

I know you said you don't have time, but making a sandbox for her (of course with parents permission) would be awesome, and they could keep it for years. Plus you could always update it each year- repaint the sides, add decoration, etc as a birthday gift.

From Amazon: A turtle that shows the constellations. My baby brother had one and loved it- and my parents enjoyed having a pretty night light that they could use as a learning tool.

Also this keepsake kit will allow the parents to make a new Christmas ornament of their girl's first Christmas, plus they can make an extra one for the favorite grandma. Yes, this isn't really for the daughter, but lets be honest; she'll play with the box and be completely overjoyed.


If you want to really make the daughter happy, this sensory tub is AMAZING. Just a tub, you say? Oh no. This can be filled with sand, small pebbles, noodles, water, beans, etc to fully engage her sensory experience. I teach with a program that has one-year-olds and they go crazy when these tubs are brought out. You can even make it into a cute basket by including things like this and this and still stay in your budget! :)

For me? I'd like this so I can sleep in a few mornings :) Good luck to you in your quest for the perfect present!

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.

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)

P&Ps: We have two Graco pack & plays that have seen a lot of love and use over the last 2.5 years. I had one with an infant napper and changing pad, and one without the napper. We really used these mostly for Grandma's house and traveling, but they're fantastic to have.

Crib: We did a Baby Appleseed Davenport crib, which was pricey ($700), but we love it. My son is 2.5 and still in the crib, but it can transition to toddler bed and full standard bed as well. I am pregnant with our second child, and instead of buying a new crib, we're going to buy my son a low loft bed and use this crib again for the new baby. The workmanship and quality of Baby Appleseed is amazing, and you can use 20% off for them at BuyBuyBaby.

Carseat: We actually did two, we initially bought the Britax B-Safe 35 Elite system with the B-Agile Stroller. This stroller is amazingly light and compact. The carseat is manageable weight, easy to install base, and holds baby snug and secure. It's also infinitely easier to move the shoulder straps because it's on a slide, rather than having to take the seat apart. We also bought a Graco ClickConnect Jogging Stroller and Carseat. I was not a fan of this carseat when my son was a newborn. It was too large for him, and he moved around too much when strapped in, ending up at weird angles that gave me anxiety. Once he was about 3 months old though, this was fantastic. I highly recommend getting a jogger if you like to be outside. Despite being in a brand new development, our sidewalks are wonky and the jogger absorbs a lot of the shock. We took him to Renaissance Festival in this stroller and we still take walks with this stroller, when he tolerates it. Once he was around 8 months, we transitioned to Graco Extend-2-Fit and we're still in that now.

Extra non-newborn necessity item: Summer Infant Portable Play Yard - we spend a ton of time outside and this was great for when my son was smaller (5-11 months) and we didn't want to plop him in the grass or throw down a blanket. It's super portable, super easy to set up and take down. Highly recommend.

I have a three-week old. Here's my very fresh advice.

A swaddling sleep sack is awesome. It's a straightjacket for newborns. Makes it easier to feed (hands don't get in the way), helps calm him/her down, and sleep longer. You can swaddle with just a small blanket, but our baby breaks out in no time. The sleep sack keeps her swaddled for much longer.

Don't buy a ton of newborn clothes. If you have lots of family, you may need to buy none. Put a hint in your announcement on facebook, or the email or whatever, that some baby clothes would be greatly appreciated. You'll get quite a lot. Send a family member to the local swap or big yardsale, and get even more cheap.

For a bassinet, we have this pack and play. It can be folded up in ~3 minutes, and it transforms to a crib later, so it will last a while.

Our hospital sent us home with some extra diapers, enough for 2 days. If yours does the same, that gives you time to run to the grocery store and buy a couple of packs of the same size. Don't go overboard, they grow quickly. This changing pad is cheap, and you can use it on the floor, table, bassinet, etc.

Don't be afraid to blatantly lean on any close by relatives for support. Cleaning, food, etc. They want to spend time with the baby, and they will help you out.

If the hospital has a lactation consultant and you're going with breastfeeding, try to make sure they stop by for at least one feeding. They're very knowledgeable and helped us out alot.

You're probably pretty terrified. I had 9 months to prepare and I wasn't sure I wanted to be a dad. It's amazing how quickly you will fall in love with your little poop machine. I can't stop staring into her little chubby face, and I can't wait until we get to the interactive stages. The care is time consuming, but it's not hard, you'll do fine.

We got this car seat and are happy with it easy to get into the car, easy to remove, you can buy extra bases for multiple cars. They make strollers that the car seat snaps into, so you don't have to take the baby out to swap.

My baby wants to be bouncing when she's awake. Constantly. The swing is only sufficient sometimes. A baby carrier is just the the solution for us. We wear her around and bounce on an exercise ball, or just walk around doing chores.

Before you leave the hospital you will need the carseat. Send a relative out to toy's-r-us to get it. You'll probably want the bassinet immediately too. Everything else you can acquire in the first two days. Save receipts and don't be afraid to return if the baby doesn't like it.

Here's some real advice - I hope it helps.

• Talk to your doctor. Our daughter had thrush (white dots on the tongue, which makes it very painful for her to eat) and acid reflux (which was caused by the medication to treat thrush), and she was put on two medications which made a world of difference. Of course, there could be something else going on.
  
  
• Get this crib with the "Cuddle Cove". See that thing on the left side in the pic? It has a vibrate function, and when we put our son in there (who also would not sleep) he passed out in 3 minutes for the first time (practically) since he was born. It was a MIRACLE for us.
  
  
• Try feeding her in a more upright position.
  
  
• Does she burp well? If not, sit her down on your left knee, right hand on her chest, and lean her forward at a 45 degree angle and try to burp her with your left hand. If that does not work, you (not the wife) can try to burp her holding her absolutely upright on your chest (which doesn't work so well for your wife as she has breasts ...) and try to burp her. That worked very well for us.
  
  
• Put her in a dark room, as dark as possible. If you gotta put towels on the windows, do it. No night light, either. Buy a sound machine and play it, but not too loud.
  
  
• Check out the book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. Your daughter is a bit too young at this point, but at 3 months you should be able to get her on a sleep schedule where she is asleep for a total of 14-18 hours per day, with 12 hours being overnight. That book was a miracle for us.
  
  
• Ask for help! Get an experienced babysitter, or anyone who you can trust to give you time off.
  
  
• If at all possible, have one of you be "on duty" for 3-5 days, and then switch. The person who is off duty should sleep somewhere that they do not hear the baby, so they can get a good nights sleep. Figure out how to make it work, re-arrange bedrooms as needed.
  
  
• If your wife is breast feeding, have her pump her breast milk, and freeze it. Then on nights where you are on duty you can bottle feed your baby. Your insurance company (in the US) is required by law to provide you with a breast pump for free!
  
  Good luck. We've been there, done that, and it does get better.

Not a parent, but I'm a neonatologist with RA, so I spend a lot of time with newborns and have a couple of ideas! First, register for baby clothes that don't have tons of snaps! Those cute little outfits with a million snaps are impossible when my hands are flaring. I find the onesies with zippers (like this) much easier. I'm also a big fan of sleep sacks because they make it super easy to get newborns snug and swaddled, and I've never met a newborn who doesn't like them. Also, I don't have personal experience with them, but I have friends who've used a co-sleeper as a safe way to have a newborn within reach while sleeping but still in a safe sleep environment, and I would think it would be really helpful for still being able to care for a baby when just getting out of bed is hard. Good luck!!

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

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.

Been there, done that. Moved into this house with a 2-year-old, started the garden, got pregnant, had that one, had another one, still gardened all the way through.

My advice to you is: Figure on dialing it wayyyy back for 2017. New Babby can be overwhelming. You probably won't have time or energy for much else besides Babby, and you don't need guilt about the messy garden added to that. I made the mistake of basically digging up my entire yard in enthusiasm the first few years, and it turned out to be a maintenance nightmare that gradually, inevitably, nearly all went back to weedy lawn, because I couldn't keep up. My husband just basically started mowing the weedy overgrown bits that were obviously no longer garden.

> We already have blueberry bushes, black currant bushes, grapes, strawberries and raspberries that come back each year.

Don't add anything else to this that can't survive on its own. These are already a set of "enough to do, enough to think about" things for this year. Those things require paying attention to them, which you can't do if you've got Baby Brain all during May, June, and July.

Honestly, I would strictly limit Super E-Z new baby stuff to add to this to the one no-brainer: tomatoes, and cage them, don't single-stake them or florida weave because those require training and pruning, which cages don't. Make them some concrete reinforcing mesh cages and turn them loose.

Everything else--zukes, cukes, pole beans--if you ignore them, they stop. They ripen that one fruit to monster size, and then as far as they're concerned, they're done, so you finally get around to going out there one day and there's nothing to pick except a baseball bat cuke or zuke, and a few pods of monstrously huge dried Kentucky Wonders. Great, your seedsaving for 2018 is all taken care of, or you can make a very small pot of bean soup. Lettuce needs thinning, which you can't do in April when you've got a bowling ball strapped to your front. You might be able to get kale in and out by the time Babby arrives, but it really does better as a fall/winter crop, as trying to beat the summer heat deadline doesn't always work. Doing it in the fall gives you a lot more leisurely harvest.

So. You need to batten down the hatches for 2017 because there's a storm coming, smack in the middle of busy season. Line up a selection of tomato plants, either from seed or a garden center, give them to a trusted gardening friend to keep watered and alive until June 1, and plant them after Babby arrives, since it's pretty simple to sit in a lawn chair with Babby on your lap and instruct Daddy in how to drop a tomato transplant into the ground. Dig hole, insert plant. It's not rocket science.

You also dodge your "cold soil" and "frost" bullets if you wait until afterwards, as even in south Michigan the end of April, beginning of May is too early to plant tomatoes outside, so you can't plant them before Babby arrives. I'm in Illinois and generally May 15 is the earliest I'd plant tomatoes. Your date is probably more like June 1. Talk to the extension office about scheduling. http://msue.anr.msu.edu/county Your Tax Dollars At Work.

Mulch them heavily with shredded bark or straw, mulch everything else you can reach, get a big wall calendar and write down your pruning and other duties for your small fruits on it in red Sharpie, and call it done. You'll thank me in July when you don't have to feel guilty that you haven't touched anything in the garden in weeks.



Then once you get your own brain back during the summer, you can start planning for fall crops, which go into the ground at the end of August, and begin picking up your gardening where you left off. If you have your own brain back earlier, garden centers usually start clearancing things like flats of annuals in the middle of June. Put in some cheap 75%-off petunias or marigolds. Just to keep your hand in.

Putting Babby in a playpen in the shade works sooooo much better than wearing him in a carrier. Your back will thank me. Get one of those light cheap portable play yards. https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Infant-Play-Portable-Playard/dp/B00KBGTRAC?th=1

You're only going to be using it under your close personal supervision, 10 feet away, and all it needs to do is keep Babby up out of the mud and the bugs. Or strap him into the stroller and park it next to you.

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!

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!

Congrats! If you haven't already got one, get a nose frida. Yes it looks gross, but this thing (and some saline if needed) is magic. My other tips are:

Try this thing out, quick & easy with a bonus to diaper changing as you don't have to worry about baby hands being where they ought not be.

Use this or a running faucet to calm her and mask any would be startling noises (like gun fire sounds from the TV).

This here is pretty handy to have around, especially if you're taking road trips to see family. Being able to rock it with a tap of the foot is also great to free up your hands for some controller time.

Good luck and enjoy this time as much as possible, before you know it you'll be playing coop with her!

I have a few kids and they only need a few things. See links for examples not recommendations:


First a place to sleep.

I would not recommend a crib. Most kids hate them as they get stuck in bars and cribs make reflux worse. Yes most babies have some level of re-flux for the first 3-9 months. My favorite is a quality pack & play. It is just as safe as a crib, can have an inclined bassinet for colic and has a changing table. They also take up a smaller footprint and are easier to get baby in and out of all while being portable. It is awesome to take baby's bed with you on a trip. Other options include a portable bassinet up to 9 months and a Montessori mattress on the floor. I know some moms who even kept baby in a dresser drawer.


Second something to eat

Boobs or bottles your choice. If you go the bottle route get the anti colic bottles and just avoid any problems from the start. I like the playtex ones with drop in liners because you only have to wash the nipples but liners are bad for the environment. Look into baby lead weaning it makes feeding easier and with less stuff. The Ikea $15 highchair is the easiest one to clean and the cheapest I have found.


Third something to wear

Second hand is the best here. It is cheaper and baby doesn't care if they are in the latest fashions. Things that don't last don't make it into the shops either. Babies grow in starts and stops. Wait till they need something before you buy it. Go for 3m clothes and not newborn unless you expect a preemie. Dress them in the same layers you wear. If you have on a blanket at night add a warmer or extra layer. You don't need shoes until they are walking.


Fourth a way to be moved

If you have a car you need a car seat. You can either get an infant seat and then buy another when they out grow it or buy a convertible one and keep it up to 7 years. The downside to the convertible one is that you can't carry it around with you. I also recommend a stroller (full size and umbrella are great second hand items) and/or a baby carrier. There are lots of baby wearing groups where you can try before you buy. Check facebook for them.


Fifth Diapers and wipes

Disposable and cloth both with so many options! My pro tip wait till you have baby before buying more than enough for the first month or so. Different babies fit them differently and a stash of ill fitting diapers is awful. Then there is also the baby that is allergic to some brands.... Yeah that's not fun...


And Lastly Toys!

Don't buy them!! Let your kid choose them. One of mine liked kitchen utensils and hated toys and I let the other have ones that held their interest at the local thrift shop. Donate when done.


You will likely find that more things may be nice but you will feel the need for them as you raise your kids. Some kids need burp clothes some don't. Same with bibs swings etc.


And of course Congratulations!

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!

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I bought this. It's 70 bucks off list price and is quite fantastic. The changer comes off easily and there is tons of storage. Plus the bassinet area is pretty nice albeit a bit flimsy if you take it out of the playard. Same with the changer area... I'm probably not going to use either like the picture because of how 'flimsy' they are out of the playard. Another grip I have with it is you can't use the whole bassinet area because of the storage under the changer.

If baby is going to be sleeping in it full time, I'd personally go for something a bit different. Like this or this.

That'll work okay, but the only problem is if you want to change baby and use the changing table you'll have to flip the newborn napper over to access the changing table.

I love the one we got because of the price, but honestly I would've sprung for this instead because it's awesomeee... You can strap baby in, use it as a rocker elsewhere. And the changing table folds in half to help with 'space' as the baby gets older and uses the bassinet or the bottom piece. If I didn't register for a rock 'n play I'd probably return my pack 'n play for one with a cuddle cove.

Edit: grammar and clarity.

Double Edit: You can also go for a rock 'n play. I have tons of friends that swear by them and had their baby sleeping in them for a while until they started getting stronger (about 4-5 months old). I also registered for this. It has an auto-rock feature now. It'll make up for the lack of a newborn napper/cuddle cove and also serve double purpose because it moves around so easily.

Technically it's not a pineapple. :)

I think people always want to go for themed newborn things but I'm not one to advocate for that. Sure, you can get them a gi themed onesie or something of the sort, but speaking as a new parent myself that may not be the ideal item for them. Everyone is different but the things that have held the most value to my wife and I, aside from some basics at the very beginning, are the people who get the "these are the toys my kids loved" gifts or, even better, people who have offered to babysit when we're ready even if it's just so we can get some rest.

My standard gift set to new parents, based on things that everyone I have known over the years have loved, are:

Happiest Baby on the Block

Fisher Price Soothe and Glow Seahorse, which is also available in blue

Travel sleep sheep

Sophie

A gift for the parents

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.

Also, I work at a university and we have a great childcare program for kids as young as 6 weeks old. There is a LONG waiting list. I suggest googling or asking your student support coordinator if your school has this and if so, how you go about applying. It's only mildly more expensive than a at-home daycare and I love it because it's mostly nursing students and students going to school for early childhood development. They actually want to be taking care of babies. I went to a university daycare program as a little kid and it was amazing, they taught me Spanish and good eating habits and I just have really fond memories of it.

Also, start telling friends and family and don't turn your nose up at hand-me-downs and buying used clothing/furniture etc... Personally, we are going to use this as a crib and changing station, because cribs are expensive and this way we can take his crib with us if we want to. Keep your mind open and stay on this forum, you'll learn a lot!

Most importantly, congratulations!!!

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/

It's crappy weather today but it's supposed to warm up for the holiday. Thank goodness!

My babies are obsessed with this mobile so I thought I'd share it. It's portable so I can move it to whenever they are and plays music but will also spin quietly. They laugh and coo at it but will also fall asleep just watching it. It's a huge hit in our house.

Tiny Love Take Along Mobile, Animal Friends, Blue https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F1CPBQ0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_KEekzbBTBN4J9

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!

For the 4 month old, toys that build sensory awareness are really good. Things like balls with different textures, different sizes, etc. There is a seahorse that Fisher Price makes that plays music that both my kids loved at that age. They make blue and pink.

For the 1 year olds, I got LeapFrog's Scout/Violet for each of my children on their first birthdays. They were hits with both of them (in fact my 4 year old still plays with her Violet every now and then). Scout is the boy version, Violet is the girl version. They can be personalized with the child's name and it is incorporated into songs that are played and little activities. It's very cool.

For the 20 month old, you could get this Twilight Turtle Constellation Night Light. Each of my children have one (4 yrs and 17 months) and it's a must have at bedtime for each of them. My daughter was so impressed by it, she named hers "wow" and that name has stuck (she's the 4 yo). You could also get the LeapFrog My First Leaptop. Again, both my kids love this (although we only have one and it's my daughter's, my son steals it frequently to play with himself).

Also, I did those recordable books from Hallmark as gifts when my daughter was a year old and she loves them very much. You could do one for your son. They are pretty cool.

Hope this helps!

I've tried a lot of different things and what has worked has changed consistently so my suggestion is take what I tell you and just try it all and try other things too that I might not even say because you just don't know what will work for your baby! I try not to nurse to sleep for naps because I don't want him having that association.

In the beginning naps were easy because he would just fall asleep in a swing or in the rock n play. Then he would only fall asleep while I was wearing him. So I would strap him in my Tula carrier and go on a long walk in my neighborhood until he was asleep and then come home and do chores while he napped in the carrier on me. Other times I have put him in the rock n play and done this - started with a swaddle (we have loved the Love to Dream swaddle and the Halo fleece swaddle sleepsacks...each of these has worked at different times) and then sat on the yoga ball and bounced with him and shushed him (with white noise playing in the background with this white noise machine AND on the rock n play) and patted his back (I hold him in my left arm with his stomach facing me and his head resting on my arm and pat his back with my other arm) until he fell asleep. Sometimes I would have to use a paci and other times he would be indifferent to it. Once he's asleep I carefully place him in the rock n play. Heating up a blanket in the dryer beforehand and putting it under him while warm helps him a lot. Then putting a warm blanket over him (around his waist) and putting the rock function on the rock n play. We also have the Solly baby wrap that he falls asleep in pretty easily. Now he is 16 weeks and in daycare so he naps in his crib at home and I rock him in a rocking chair instead of on the ball for his naps. Patience is key. And trying different things and realizing that what works today may not work tomorrow and what didn't work yesterday may be the thing that does the trick today!!

He will also fall asleep in the car if he's tired or in his stroller on a walk whereas just a few weeks ago he wasn't doing either of those things. Good luck mama!

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

yes!!! We were dealing with the same things and I was super pregnant and cranky and tired. We ended up putting a door knob cover on her door so she couldn't get out. We tell her to just knock and call for us and we do have to go in multiple times at the beginning of the night, tuck all her dolls in etc. One thing that recently helped was to transition from living room where she gets her pajamas on to our bedroom where we have ' family meeting' which is books and talking about the day. Then brush teeth and bed. I find that spending some time on our bed helped her instead of just straight to her room. Then we say she can play in her room with lights out but nightlight on and to call us when you want to be tucked in. Within 30 seconds shes calling for us. Giving her control has been huge! Then before bed I go over what we will do the next day with great excitement. And lastly this turtle light was a huge help! once again gave her control of her environment, she could turn the dim light on whenever she wants:
https://www.amazon.com/Cloud-Twilight-Turtle-Nightlight-Projector/dp/B000BNQC58

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!

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!

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.

Hang in there, mama! We definitely went through a sleep regression around 4 months too and it passed with time! I'd recommend sticking with a set bedtime routine and keeping any of her comfort items (i.e., the paci) or you won't know what's working and what isn't. As for naps, our LO didn't have a strict nap schedule at that age, we just let him sleep whenever/however long he needed to and only woke him up if his last nap was getting too close to bedtime. CIO can work to help babies go to sleep at bedtime, but is not very effective for middle-of-the-night wake-ups.

Some tips that helped us:

• Frequent feeds in the evening (every 90 mins) to make sure he went down with a full tummy (adding formula could potentially upset her tummy),
  
  
• Our LO has great fine motor skills, so we put extra pacifiers in his crib for him to find in the night (he uses the Soothies which are soft so it doesn't hurt if he rolls onto them),
  
  
• White noise (just an app on my phone), seems to help put him to sleep and keep him sleeping longer,
  
  
• A heavy-weight sleep sack (like this one), keeps him cozy warm and prevents him from waking himself up from wriggling,
  
  
• Overnight diapers, no need for nighttime diaper changes that wake him up too much.
  
  Good luck! The 4-month sleep regression definitely sucks!!

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

I'm not sure if they should be on the pillows - crib mattresses are very firm for a reason, and the pillows seems too soft/fluffy. I would just put them directly on the bed if I were you.

I would also be careful putting them too close together - the reason I say this is because you wouldn't want one to get his face stuck against the swaddle of the other and suffocate because he couldn't move. Is it possible to keep one twin on one side of you and the other on the opposite side?

Another option would be to get these co-sleeper's which would keep the twins in your bed, but separated somewhat. It also allows them to have that really firm mattress. I'm not sure what two of those would look like in a queen bed though :-/

A third option would be to get these side-car co-sleepers and put them on either side of your bed. You didn't mention a second parent, so I suppose this would only work if it is only you in the bed. Perhaps you could combine the co-sleeper that goes in the bed with this sidecar option and have one in each? And honestly while your twins are small they might both fit in the sidecar. Once they are bigger, there are fewer risks with co-sleeping so it won't be such a big issue to have them in bed with you. Its really just those first few months that are so worrisome (and they are honestly just worrisome no matter what - whether or not they are in your bed!).

Good luck and I hope you find a safe and convenient sleeping arrangement for your and your adorable little guys!

This isn’t the exact one we got, I’ll have to confer with the wife to narrow it down, but this one follows the same concept. We also increased our confidence by using the Owlet heart rate monitor, definitely worth a look IMO.


Baby Delight Snuggle Nest Afterglow Infant Sleeper/Baby Bed | Misty Dandelions Catcher Fabric Pattern | Portable Bassinet with Nightlight | Waterproof Foam Mattress with Sheet https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LZRRLTA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_XmUVDb6D45YDS

We have the older and less-shiny version of this clock, which has been a phenomenal lifesaver since we moved our kid into a toddler bed.

It goes blue at bedtime automagically, yellow in the morning (and the new one lets you set different wake up times for the weekend!), has a nap timer (you set nap length, then manually initiate naps and it turns yellow again automagically), and all that.

The other big thing that helped, for us, was breaking out the video monitor again. Shut the door and watch over the monitor and "voice of god" at the kid. Telling him to "get back in bed" without him even seeing us means he isn't getting any ideas that night time is play time.

Combining the two, and he was staying in bed consistently for night and naps (except for when he needs to use the restroom, but we have a small potty in his room for that) since about the end of the first week.

The big rule for naps now is "You don't have to sleep, but you DO have to stay in bed and be quiet until the clock turns yellow."

Free time: back! Sleep: restored! Sanity: Doin' better!

Good luck. <3

I have a 2 year old son that likes to climb everything...And I also have a nice fireplace with shelves on each side of it, and a big tv on top of the fireplace mantle. So, I have one of these taken apart so it's one long piece, instead of a circle. It's basically a fence lol. Each end is bolted to a wall using zip ties to attach it to the eye bolts. Voila, no toddler climbing my fireplace!

I LOVE NYX because they have a big variety of quality stuff for awesome prices. I have some of their eyeliners and a couple of lipsticks and I really do love them. Thanks for hosting!

My daughter loves these two night/light toys:

Rainbow in my room

And

Light Turtle

She also likes these little kid magnet toys - they are really weird looking - but when she finally figured out the "pull" of the magnets they became amazing to her:
GeoMag

I obviously have a girl - but I'm sure your kid would love any of these! Pretty universal items!

Can definitely recommend this one:

https://www.amazon.com/Graco-Playard-Bassinet-Changer-Rocking/dp/B005UV0USQ/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1484625131&sr=8-1&keywords=pack+n+play+cuddle+cove

This was my older daughter's main crib until she turned 2. As a newborn in a small apartment, we loved having the little "cuddle cove," which served as her bouncy seat/rock n' play and the changing table was nice for the first few weeks to have right next to my bed. It comes with a little diaper organizer that attaches, plus an attachable nightlight which was awesome for checking if she was breathing without waking her up, plus changing those midnight diapers without turning all the lights on. Plus it's cute and matches my bedroom decor :) Can't wait to get it out again for #2.

I recommend borrowing the following two things from friends -

Summer Infant Pop-n-Play
https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Infant-Play-Portable-Playard/dp/B00KBGTRAC/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1495664261&sr=8-1&keywords=pop%2Bn%2Bplay&th=1

Canopy - for shade and hanging towels

Something that looks like this (or smaller): https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Pop-Up-Canopy-Tent-10/dp/B0145R49C8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1495664326&sr=8-6&keywords=beach+canopy

-------
As for getting them to the beach, you can get a beach cart - or borrow/rent a jogging stroller (with giant wheels for getting over the dunes).

Don't forget that you can always back-carry your twins in carriers (Ergo/Tula, etc) - to leave your hands free to carry stuff and set up.

If you've never back-carried before in a carrier, it's awesome. And generally people will think you and your wife (and babies) look super adorable as you walk along. Here's a how to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImBAhltsbRQ

Summer Infant Baby Jail for an option to keep kid and toys cleaner, camped with other adults do there were people to hold the baby sometimes, especially packing up. Because of course, you want to leave for the long drive at naptime. It would not have been possible to camp just the 3 of us last summer without a baby meltdown packing up. At 16m he was walking for 3m and listened to voice commands to stay close and we spent time establishing the "boundaries of the site" and we packed everything we possibly could the night before and went bare bones in the morning. He didn't mind being in the tent while we packed up what was inside. I could do some stuff in a front carry, there was the cold day he would not nap except in my wrap, and my ultimate plan after 6m was a back carry while packing or cleaning if he wouldn't cooperate. Our biggest issue this summer has been the tent being too hot for naps, but luckily I trained mine to do walking naps in the stroller that reclines as we approached a year ago I could walk the camp loops, etc and then roll him into the shade with me. For sure the brightness of a tent is sometimes an issue too, including at bedtime so some backup plans for naps is a good idea, they are more important than ever. This last trip instead of 8:30-7:30, he slept 9-6:30, so almost an extra 90 min needed to be made up in napping if he was going to stay on schedule. But we didn't stress too much, we just looked hard for nap cues and sprung into action so he could get the best rest he could. And no more elaborate meals, if it takes more than 15min to prep and cook, it's too long.

Swaddle Sacks! These things are great, we used them every day/night.

SwaddleMe Original Swaddle 3-PK, SuperStar (LG) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01644OL1O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_rIzQBbWP2EHNP

Pair those with a rock and play... and your little one should take some nice naps (which will help you get some sleep).

Fisher-Price Auto Rock 'n Play Sleeper, Aqua Stone https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NEO5UTU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_3KzQBbZTKYHPJ

We also used (and still use) a noise machine. Helps you continue to have a life while the baby is napping in the other room!

Skip Hop Moonlight & Melodies Crib Soother and Baby Night Light, Owl https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076F9LV2V/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_lSzQBbJKS45RT

Good luck!

8 days later here... Sorry for the late reply.
Hmmm... I remember a mini potty was a prominent part of our gear. :)
A few baby carriers of course for wearing babe around camp.
Very minimal, simple, one or two toys. Nature is the main 'toy'.

Main challenge is sleeping. We did cosleeping with our newborn at home so we were experienced with this. Cosleeping is not for everyone and depending on your sleeping style could be dangerous. Doubly so in a tent. My wife and I were really wound up about sleep safety in the tent. We took steps to do it safely, but we went for it. Not everyone should do this.

Sorry, I'm sure you already know all this. But it's just so important, it bears repeating I think.

I think the Snuggle Nest was instrumental to making it work. We had one similar to this: https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Delight-Dandelions-Nightlight-Waterproof/dp/B01LZRRLTA . Without the snuggle nest, I don't know how we would have slept safely in the cold tent.

Our first trip was pretty much bliss.

I have a five day old and we’ve been really loving the Swaddle Me brand for her. She’s very strong and can Houdini her way out of a muslin swaddle, but these chill her right out, they’re like baby Valium most of the time. These have less Velcro than the Halo brand, so they aren’t as loud when you take them off.

Also, to echo what others have said about safety, I’m
a nurse and we swaddle babies all the time, the hospital where I used to work actually provided parents with a sleep sack for infants to take home. The nice thing about the sacks is they can’t kick them loose and potentially get the fabric up by their face, but many people use muslin/ flannel swaddles or blankets and have no problems. You can always check with your pediatrician to see what they recommend, I know the two times I’ve been to ours I asked 8 million questions and I’m a pediatric nurse! Our doctors have been very patient and reassuring :)

SwaddleMe Original Swaddle 3-PK, Busy Bees (SM) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013GYQVCW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_JDnbBbHW9KCJV

Once my baby noticed it (around 8-10 weeks) she really enjoyed looking at. I was able to put her down in her crib, turn it on, and it would give me 20 minutes of free time to use the bathroom and eat! She's 6 months now and she still enjoys it and I think she finds the music comforting b/c she's heard it so much! I got this inexpensive one and it's great b/c it's easy to move and travel with.
http://www.amazon.com/Tiny-Love-Mobile-Animal-Friends/dp/B00F1CPBQ0/ref=sr_1_cc_1_a_it?s=aps&srs=2595608011&ie=UTF8&qid=1462799493&sr=8-1-catcorr&keywords=baby+mobile

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.

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 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. 😊

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

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.

Not OP, but have friends that have those- they are called 'little helpers' and [yes, they are made specifically for that]
(https://www.amazon.com/Little-Partners-Learning-Adjustable-Toddlers/dp/B001ECHXVC)

I'm also not a fan of large/tall crown moulding, except in large rooms. I feel like it makes the kitchen look smaller than it is here. I feel the same way about the large island- maybe it's just the pics, but it looks like a person can just fit around the one side of it. But! Not my house, so who cares what I think! ;)

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...

We put together the Pack N Play and the crib over the weekend. Every day since the nursery-in-progress has been my happy place. I was planning to wait until after the anatomy scan (coming Monday) for the big purchases, just in case, but they went on sale and I can't pass a good bargain. I've been finally feeling confident that I have a healthy baby in there so hopefully I'll be proven right at the appointment.

Word to the wise: We put together the Pack N Play first because we thought it would be easier. We were so, so very wrong. This was the most frustrated we have both been in a hot minute. Those instructions are not super clear and there were a ton of little parts. Prepare yourselves!

One last tip for those who are yet to put theirs together. On the one we got, it told us to put the mattress in the bottom after expanding the main part out and clicking the rods into place. There were a slew of hard to reach snaps and velcro to secure it into place. Then we added the mesh basket-type thing above it. After, it said to remove the mattress from the bottom and place it into the mesh basket. I wanted to rip my hair out, so hopefully you won't waste any time with that non-sense after seeing this.

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 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.

-1. Here's an amazing bed!

-1A. Here's another bed, which corresponds to my bonus answer

-2. The best bedtime snack for camping!!

-3. Can you picture yourself in these flannel pajamas??

-4. Multi-purpose for when you just want to cuddle!

-5. Whispering waves to help your baby sleep! (And match your adult nightlight!

BONUS: What's black and white and red all over?^^a^sunburnt^^panda!


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

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

You could get them an indoor star projector thingy like this. Or maybe a moon in my room and a really soft throw blanket.


Or how about a theme park gift card? That way they can buy the tickets when they want. Maybe if they like a certain theme park with certain characters you can buy them a novelty from it (like a Steamboat Willy) and some candy themed from there.


Nature? Awesome! How about wildlife documentaries on DVD? Maybe a cool wilderness guidebook? What about a butterfly kit? Oo! How about a firefly light?


Ok I'm out of ideas off of the top of my head for now, but I think it really is doable. :)


^I'm ^trying ^here

Best toy. My son has had these for awhile and we use them to teach him letters, animals and other items.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005KBQGH0

Best teether. Yes it's expensive but it's worth it. Instead of trying a bunch of others, just buy this one.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000IDSLOG

He loves this doll. You can customize it to say their name, what songs it plays and a few other things.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001W30D2O


We used this for a nightlight. He has used it since birth (almost 2 now).
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000BNQC58

Also this
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000GKWA66

Our daughter would wake herself up trying to get her hands out of the swaddle and up to her face so we tried the Swaddle Up. It's tight around her torso and her hands are up by her face but her startle reflex is subdued and her legs are loose like a halo sleep sack. First night she wore it ~6 weeks old she slept for 5 hours straight! We have since bought 2 more, a backup and a backup for our backup lol.

Love to Dream Swaddle UP Original, Gray, Medium, 13-18.5 lbs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005ULUZIQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_KaEYVo2vjDUF4

Cosleeping (which can including sharing a room) and even bedsharing can be safe (the link above from Jim McKenna at Notre Dame, who researches this, is good advice supported by evidence. I read his book on the topic and there are lots of benefits - Cosleeping can even lower risk of SIDS compared to solitary sleeping, when done safely. But using soft sleeping materials like cushions, pillows, or even "nesters" like doc a tots means you're adding a risk factor... For the same reason having a crib bumper is dangerous: babies can nuzzle in to the soft pillow and won't be able to breathe. McKenna recommends a firm sleep surface. Something like this is probably safer than a squishy, soft nester - even if it doesn't look so snuggly! https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Delight-Dandelions-Nightlight-Waterproof/dp/B01LZRRLTA

I got the Tot Clock based on a recommendation from my sister-in-law. It has volume control, so you don't have to worry about it being too loud. I don't think it's too bright (but everyone has their own opinion, I suppose).

To be honest, this clock didn't really work for my kid. I'll be honest though, I didn't follow through on the whole "you can't get up until it's orange."

However, he loves the night time features. It plays a song for 15 minutes. He always asks for me to turn it on before I leave his room. You can also change the disc to a story (I believe we have Goldilocks and the 3 Bears, but it's been so long since I've changed it).

It also has a timeout option, which I've used.

My kid is 7 now and rarely sleeps past 7:00 am. So, the few times he has, he'll come to me and brag about how he didn't get up until the clock turned orange.

Recently, I did have to switch the wake-up time to 6:30 so he has enough time to get dressed and eat before off to school.

It's a nice clock and has all the features you desire, but you still have to enforce, you can't get up until it turns orange.

I love the sleep sheep-- not sure how similar they are-- http://www.amazon.com/Cloud-Travel-Machine-Soothing-Sounds/dp/B000J6CDY6 The travel one as loud as the normal size one and is a much more convenient size. Battery life seems great. Hand me down from a friend and we have yet to need to change batteries.

We use Amazon mom for diapers. Two of the biggest boxes a month so $55/month.

I HIGHLY suggest getting a variety of brands of diapers to see what works for you. My twins did well in Luvs and Pampers but leaked like crazy with Huggies but my cousin's daughter worked best with Huggies. It varies.

Formula: Like the other poster said, it was about $250/month. We used Sam's Club brand. I sat there and looked at the backs of packages- Similac, Enfamil, Sam's Club, Parent's Choice (Walmart), and Up&Up (Target) all had the EXACT same percentages and amounts of all the same nutrients and the EXACT same list of ingredients in the same order. Now, what gets you is the percentages of the ingredients that aren't the vitamins/minerals etc. Similac made my girls very constipated and Gerber made their poo smell AWFUL. Enfamil was my favorite because the powder was less clumpy but unless I had the formula checks that made it the same price as the off-brands, I wouldn't get it. We stuck with Sam's Club brand for the most part until our membership expired and when we did the math we would break even on it when we could just buy it at Walmart or Target. If you know someone with a Costco or Sam's Club membership, you could give them the money and ask them to buy it but buying a membership simply for formula isn't worth it in terms of what you save. Don't stock up on any specific brand but getting a small container of a variety of brands wouldn't hurt.

I never used shopping cart covers. It was too much of a hassle to deal with.

Baby jail like this was invaluable. I used it up until a few months ago (and my twins are 3). Get the 8 panel! You'll want the extra space.

Bouncy seats. Buy them used.

Buy everything besides crib mattress and car seats used.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00BFBUYAO/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1411273518&sr=8-2&pi=SX200_QL40

This is what we have and I love it. It's half the width of a regular pack n play so it doesn't take up as much room. It can be used as a bassinet/cosleeper or a pack n play. I had my first son in bed with me at birth, and he still is at 3yo lol. My second son slept next to our bed for the first 6 months in a fisher price rock n play sleeper. It's much easier to move around to wherever you need it than the cosleeper, but is outgrown around 6-7 months. Then when he got too tall ( he's also huge, 90th %) we switched him to the cosleeper. Now at 17 months he still nurses at night frequently so I just leave him in the middle to fight his brother for space haha.

Rock N Play - http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DJPGL42/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1411273707&sr=8-2&pi=SY200_QL40

Hope things are going better. My wife and I found success with Swaddleme-style sleep sacks and a HALO sleep sack. My brother-in-law swears by the Snoo smart sleeper, but obviously that's an expensive option and not for everybody.

Check for any environmental concerns—my daughter was wailing one night and I noticed, thanks to an in-room thermometer, that it was a little too hot for a baby in there.

But also, yeah, babies that small sleep odd hours for short periods. If he's sleeping well in between feeds, you're probably doing okay.

I bought two Learning Towers for $7 each over the weekend. The finish is in rough shape (faded, mostly) but the structure is perfectly solid on both of them.

I have tried Craigslist and local selling groups for $50 each. I had one person who wanted one but when she realized that they don't fold down, she backed out because she's moving and didn't have the room for them. She said she'd contact me after she moved to see if I still had one. Aside from her, no takers, just a few people asking what they were.

I thought they would be an easy flip since they sell for $200 new and they're fairly popular on mommy blogs and Pinterest.

My daughter's first winter (she was 6 months old in December that year) we got her a Baby Deedee sleep nest which is like a wearable duvet blanket. She started sleeping better immediately, it has a nice weight to it like a real blanket instead of a normal sleep sack. We loved that thing. She wore it until she was 14 months old and started getting her arms out of it. We just changed what she wore underneath it. In the summer with the A/C on it was just a onesie, in the winter it was long sleeve PJs.

Do you have any kid consignment stores in your area? Mine constantly has those large yard gate enclosures for 35-75. You should try Craigslist too I've seen alot of them there. I know $150 is alot but I would shop around I've seen them for around $90 and so many stores price match now. There's a good resale value too so you could always make at least 50% back when you were done with it so long as it remains in good condition.

Edit: here's one at amazon for $63
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000G1YW98/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1376323722&sr=8-1&pi=SL75

Breakfast for dinner! Anyone else?

Questions for mom's: Any opinion on this product, or anything similar? I have it on my baby wish list and have been going back and forth about it. I have a crib, a craddle, and a rocking baby swing- I feel like if I get this I will have too many sleeping options for him... but I really would like to safely cosleep for the sake of easing my own anxiety.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YBADM1O/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2CMHR5WDGKN4U&coliid=I1RZO7HD8HFMHA&psc=1

This was a great transitional swaddle for my LO: Love To Dream Swaddle Up Original https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0081GJ038/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_vLEaub0VEPQM5

Lol my two year old is the same with every flashlight he’s ever had. Turtle light we have one of these for the two year old and one in our 9 month olds crib too, the lights aren’t that bright and they can press the buttons to change the colors. We hear the two year old at night sometimes going “wooaahhhhh stars!!!” Haha it’s cute.

Thanks! I had put this thing on my registry but the handles on the basket look super useful.

I didn't end up having to bedshare so I can't comment from first hand experience, but have you considered something like a cosleeper for your bed? I know a few ladies who recommend these. You mentioned there's not much room though, so while this might mitigate the softness issue it won't do you any good if it simply doesn't fit.

You might be able to pair the cosleeper with a folding mattress on the floor in the nursery though. It'll add a degree of separation between you and baby, so that's good, but it'll keep you close and on the same level, which might work.

Travel safe! Its been years since I didn't check neo in the airport, though, that would be weird for me.

And good luck researching baby stuff. I bought one of these things for a baby shower and man, it was ADORABLE.

Baby DeeDee!

Baby Deedee Sleep Nest Sleeping Sack, Warm Baby Sleeping Bag fits Newborns and Infants https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003FZPD1I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_OwpnDb3MCQ5JQ

This has been our wonderful transition from Merlin sleep suit and they make different thicknesses which I love for the PA weather. She won’t sleep without some kind of fluff and only “naps” if not in her sleep sack at night. Just PJ’s in the crib won’t do! I have three of the medium weight, and one of the jersey cotton cause daycare is warm.

Love to Dream Swaddle UP Original, Gray, Medium, 13-18.5 lbs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005ULUZIQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_SkHizb9M9EHS6

These are LEGIT. We got the ones where the arm pods zip off and it's just a blanket. Perfect for transitioning.

Yes! I do the same setup for naps as nighttime. I also love these sleep sacks. Stops him from startling but allows more movement and he can still use his hand to keep his paci in his mouth to self soothe.

You could do a wearable blanket so she can move her arms like she likes.


Edit: another option could be this. My son isn't a huge swaddle fan cuz he really likes to put his hands up by his face and spread his legs and he sleeps pretty well with this.

We use this. It stays in all night, but there is not a remote. Bonus point for being cute. 😊 https://www.amazon.com/Skip-Hop-Moonlight-Melodies-Soother/dp/B076F9LV2V/ref=asc_df_B076F9LV2V/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198101723026&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3519010334477746940&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007386&hvtargid=pla-390806193582&psc=1

You can actually get your hands on a Co-Sleeper, if it makes you feel better. My EMom used one with my youngest brother. They're like bassinets you strap to the side of your bed, so you can't roll into them, but you can easily reach out and touch the baby. (Esp good for breastfeeding moms who don't want to get up.)

This is one on Amazon.

That was me! I didn't even notice the bed frame! We also had this cosleeper which we loved, and our baby liked slept better in it at the beginning!

SwaddleMe By Your Side Sleeper https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YBADM1O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_-P5SDbFHDY608

I've had two versions of this Skip Hop Moonlight & Melodies Crib Soother and Baby Night Light, Owl https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B076F9LV2V/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_c-z1BbTEJTJ3J. I broke one on a trip and cried. We picked up another one that day.

The white noise is great, there's a continuous setting, my toddler loves the stars on the ceiling and the twinkle twinkle jingle. Plus it's super cute.

My good friend recommended this one. I haven't used it yet but I did receive one at my baby shower. I hope it works out well!

So my daughter is/was a swing sleeper, about a week or two before turning 5 months she suddenly stopped sleeping well in her swing so we moved her to the RnP and keep it on vibrate. We'd tried slowly lowering the swing speed, cold turkey, and the RnP before with no luck. Our swing is a Fisher Price cradle swing so the seat is similar to the RnP. We're trying to wean her off of vibrate and slowly get her used to sleeping on a flat surface. Sorry I don't have better advice but don't assume that you've done anything "wrong" by having her sleep in the swing. You're doing what works for you and your baby, if she sleeps better in the swing then you're doing it right. The crib might seem too open or big for her, you could try using something like this inside the crib to make her feel more secure.

We have this one, but would like to keep it for baby #2. Just thought I'd share the link. :)

Our little one will wiggle herself awake if we don't swaddle her. We have a halo and swaddle me up Velcro swaddle. But the one we end up using almost every night is the love to dream zip up swaddle. Bonus it has hands up and she can still self soothe by numbing on her hands without escaping.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0081GJ038/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_AgZQAbQG555B8

I know some of the fancier pack and plays have sides that unzip, which might be an option. Also a moses basket on the floor or a travel bassinet/co-sleeper like this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YBADM1O/ would work for the first few months.

And to help you with google searches (not to be a nit picker) what you are describing - having baby sleeping in their own bed next to yours - is what is now a days referred to as co-sleeping. Having a baby in your bed is what I assume you want to avoid, which is mostly referred to as bed sharing now a days. I only recently learned about this somewhat new terminological distinction myself. There are a lot of co-sleeper things that might be helpful to you.

Thanks! It's just like this https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01LZRRLTA/ref=mp_s_a_1_13_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1492561316&sr=8-13&keywords=co+sleeper and just has a couple blankets draped in it. When he gets older I'll push our bed all the way against the crib. This is my 4th and I know with the previous 3 babies, this is what works best for us while I'm nursing.

Can you get an in-bed co-sleeper? It creates their own safe space for them. https://www.amazon.com/SwaddleMe-By-Your-Side-Sleeper/dp/B00YBADM1O/ref=sr_1_3_s_it?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1518906399&sr=1-3&keywords=Co-sleeper&th=1

Or just make the bed as safe as possible and embrace it!

Room looks great.
Props to the wyze. works great as a baby camera
I had to get rid of that same trash can. It was like the smell impregnated in it and everytime I opened it I wanted to puke
I'd recommend one of these noise machines and a small lamp beside the nursing chair. Cloud b Sleep Sheep On The Go Travel Sound Soother https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000J6CDY6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_hA12DbK2E5YXX

Try this swaddle - Love To Dream Swaddle UP, Gray, Small, 7-13 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_5jDSCbA6PZJ12

My daughter didn’t like any swaddles except this.

Toddler tried a couple of bottles but refused them all until he tried Dr. Brown bottles (with the regular nipple, not wide mouth), but it's true that they can be a pain to clean. For some reason it didn't occur to me until toddler was around 6 months old that I could put bottles through the dishwasher? So handwashing all those Dr. Browns bottles was hell. But once I realized I can toss them in the dishwasher I bought a couple of these little dishwasher cages and that made cleaning the Dr. Browns bottles totally manageable.

Toddler was also a huge fan of swaddling. But he could easily bust out of any swaddle I attempted with a plain blanket. We bought a single Halo sleepsack at our local Target and quickly realized its magical qualities. Something about that tight velcro squeeze, Toddler couldn't escape and would happily sleep away. We purchased a few more on Amazon and even bought the next sizes up as Toddler grew. In fact, Toddler still sleeps in these toddler versions of sleep sacks.

Co-sleeping is a hot topic, particularly regarding safety. If you're in the U.S., the AAP is going to advise against co-sleeping; however, many parents still do it to varying degrees. The risk is up to you-- if you do want to co-sleep, consider devices that may lower risk of hurting your baby (noting that nothing is absolute).

in-bed device : something like this would be placed in bed, but has hard, sturdy sides that would most likely prevent you from unconsciously rolling onto baby.


side-car bassinet/sleeper : something like this is going to have baby on a separate sleep surface that you cannot roll onto, yet it comes right up to your bed and provides similar closeness.

If you're considering co-sleeping, please take the time to research safety guidelines, SIDs statistics, and other credible, well-researched resources for relevant information.

It absolutely is easier to put a newborn baby to sleep on their stomach (in my experience with 2). I only ever allowed it for brief daytime naps, while they were feet away in a bassinet. Nighttime, no way! At night if I have the opportunity I am passed the fuck out, which is why it’s scary to leave a newborn in a risky position like that.

I’m sorry to say but you just gotta keep trying. Swaddle tightly, maybe a pacifier, and a shusher. You’re just not going to get great sleep for yourself with a newborn unless you have a partner or other extra help to be there for you.

There’s a reason every swaddle and crib and pediatrician repeats ad nauseum “back is best”.

We used to use a gate similar to this:
https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Infant-Surround-6-Panel-PlaySafe/dp/B000G1YW98/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1495427529&sr=8-2&keywords=playard+gate

We actually organized it into a rectangle and placed it around the TV stand. It looked decent, had great airflow, and most importantly kept the kids/Xbox safe.

Our white noise machine has been so helpful. It put me at ease and helped get me to sleep when LO was a newborn.

Then, when we started sleep training it helped because she was still in our room and she didn’t wake up when we opened the door to go to bed ourselves.

Now she’s in her own room and we still use it every night. I don’t feel like I have to be super quiet and when planes fly over (we live next to a base) or when cars drive by bumpin music I’m not worried she’s going to wake up.

You should get one!

I am a fan of Graco pack and plays that have the basinet and changing table attached. It's perfect for the first few months when the baby sleeps in your room and take up so little space for their function.

Here's one I like: https://www.amazon.com/Graco-Playard-Bassinet-Changer-Rocking/dp/B005UV0USQ/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1481487182&sr=1-4&keywords=graco+pack+and+play

So we bedshared. At first we bought a metal bassinet that sits on the bed, we bought at bye bye baby. https://www.amazon.com/SwaddleMe-By-Your-Side-Sleeper/dp/B00YBADM1O/

If you have something for the baby to eat, I highly recommend you ask your husband to take one over night and you sleep in another room. I would go from 9pm-5am. My husband did that for me anytime we felt like I was loosing it. He would do it on a Friday or Saturday night. I would usually not sleep that who time, I had to pump. But you will be amazed at how 5 hours of straight sleep feels. There are also post partum doulas you can hire.

My husband did overnights for me every 3-4 months.

I just bought this thing: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YBADM1O/ref=br_it_dp_o_nS_ttl?ie=UTF8&colid=O6J690IS6MW5&coliid=I1VPDJP4JJ9ZML&vs=1

whether he sleeps in it all night, or to just have as a safe thing he can be inside when he's on the bed/couch, i figured its only $30, and has pretty good reviews!

We use these one https://www.amazon.com/SwaddleMe-Original-Swaddle-3-PK-Busy/dp/B013GYQVCW
They work great for my newborn(he’s a week old and 7lbs) and I used them also when my daughter was a newborn 4 years ago and she loved them too!

Something like this can be used in addition to the all over mattress pad.
Your friends could even have 2 or 3 of these in rotation. They’re easy to change out and either put directly on top of the sheet or under the sheet.

The Original GORILLA GRIP Slip-Resistant Incontinence Soft Mattress Pad Bed Wetting Cover (52” x 34”) Absorbs up to 8 Cups, Waterproof, Leak Proof Edge, Machine Washable, Toddler, Adult, Enuresis Pads https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LR99P44/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Ych9AbZ9EB05Q

This was what I was referring to: SwaddleMe By Your Side Sleeper

And thanks! I wish you luck!

I find that if I don't relax, I squirt less. Also, I buy reusable mattress pads, like a giant rectangle that you can lay over the bed. It's meant for children who wet the bed, but they work great. If you can explain away an Amazon box to your parents, try one of these.

I've recommended this to all my dad friends and they all love it. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00D2JN87I/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1481497605&sr=8-1&keywords=baby+shoosher&pi=SX200_QL40

Makes babies stfu at night real quick.

I got one about a week ago for my 2.5yo. We've had a red nightlight since he was born.

We got the clock because he keeps waking up waaay too early now that it's light so much earlier. The model we got has a lot of settings, so we have it so the "wake up light" is the only light it makes, and none of the sounds active.

He got the concept right away. He's still waking up too early, but he's doing a much better job of staying quietly in bed until the light goes on. Before, he'd start asking to get out of bed. (He's still in a crib, btw)

We bought this one: https://smile.amazon.com/My-Tot-Clock-New-Improved/dp/B00NC10YFA/

And so far I'm really happy with it. It will grow with him, and can eventually be a full alarm clock, etc.

https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Infant-Play-Portable-Playard/dp/B00KBGTRAC/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1540482637&sr=8-1&keywords=summer+infant+play+yard&dpID=41ScPp5hwoL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

This is what we have for our 11mo boys. It packs up like a camp chair and is easy to setup and tear down. The floor of it is slightly padded and the boys enjoy it. Also came with a hanging tablet mount if you want to put up a movie or something for them.

You might consider trying a HALO SleepSack. That one is cotton and allows you to swaddle their arms in, or one can leave the arms out and just wrap the "wings" around his belly. For a lighter cover, you can consider a muslin sleep sack like this one. To be clear, I'm not advocating for HALO; I really like the Aden and Anais muslin sleep sack, and there are several other brands available via Amazon, Jet, Google, etc.
As for camping, it's the same as anywhere else (unless he's under 8lbs - if I recall that weight correctly). Dress him as you'd dress yourself. If you need an extra layer to stay warm, so does baby. I'm not sure that's what you were asking, though; did I address your concerns?

SwaddleMe! Hands-down the best thing we got or bought. Nurses may be expert swaddlers but my lil' guy breaks out in 5 seconds! With these things he can't get loose until I let him. :)

There's also these if you're looking for alternatives Love to Dream Swaddle UP Original, Gray, Medium, 13-18.5 lbs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005ULUZIQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_AlRzzb9AESKWZ

I’m not the person you replied to, but when my baby kept breaking free of all other swaddles, we ended up using a zippered, arms-up swaddle. Like this: love to dream arms up swaddle. They’re stupid expensive but they worked well for my little one.

But why subject your child to a suffocation risk like this in the first place? You can get well-rated play yards for $55. Is your child's safety really worth less than $35?

Not sure how old your LO is, but we got a tot clock when our oldest started doing this at 25 months. It was he'll. I was in my 1st trimester with her sister and I needed her to fucking stay put! This is the one we got and it was a fucking lifesaver! (On mobile, so hopefully link works)

My Tot Clock My Toddler, White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NC10YFA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_cCnaCbNKSC1P2

And a baby shusher!!!

Baby Shusher - The Soothing Sleep Miracle for Babies https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D2JN87I/ref=cm_sw_r_apa_OBUCxbZ1Q2J72

This thing was our go to for 3 months, I get it for everyone

I highly recommend this mobile. It’s awesome we still use ours at 2 years old we just clip it to the sunroof opening now instead of the seat handle

https://www.amazon.ca/Tiny-Love-Mobile-Animal-Friends/dp/B00F1CPBQ0

We have this one and he seems to like it.

We also have the constellation turtle which is just a stationary night light, but he seems to enjoy as well.

When it's bedtime, I put him in his crib and turn on one or the other. Sometimes both. He just stares at it until his eyes get droopy and he falls asleep.

Have you tried a swaddle sack instead of a swaddle? His fingers will be contained, but he won't be strapped down like in the swaddle.

Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Dream-Swaddle-Original-13-18-5/dp/B005ULUZIQ/ref=sr_1_5_s_it?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1539269451&sr=1-5&keywords=swaddle+sack&dpID=41PVzoBf6DL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

We coslept with our kids too. If you don't already have a cosleeper, I highly recommend it. It makes the transition to the crib/bassinet much easier later down the road. Here's a decent one on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/SwaddleMe-By-Your-Side-Sleeper/dp/B00YBADM1O/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=in+bed+cosleeper&qid=1563257168&s=gateway&sprefix=in+bed+coslee&sr=8-1

My biggest piece of advice is to just be patient. It sounds like your baby is very young, so it's normal for your sex drive to take a dive, especially if your nursing. Your hormones can take a long time to normalize, plus it sounds like your exhausted. If you don't want sex, then don't force it. Do what feels right.

If its hard finding a time because the baby is in bed, i suggest making a deliberate effort and find times outside of bedtime. Use nap time or when the baby falls asleep, sneak off to the livingroom. Or, if the baby is safe and happy, take 15 mins and knock it out while s/he is distracted.

Overall, this is a small bump in your sex life. It seems like a lot now, but take it from another mother that it really won't matter much down the road.

I'm not sure if this counts and I'm sorry for the crazy title of this item let me know if that doesn't count

thank you so much for the contest. this is awesome. I have a lot of issues relaxing and sleeping so I'm hoping this will help. thank you! ♥

I have been following a Montessori group on Facebook. The learning tower comes to mind. Your kiddo can watch and/or help out with small tasks like cutting soft fruits and vegetables, stirring, etc.
Here is an example: https://www.amazon.com/Little-Partners-Learning-Adjustable-Toddlers/dp/B001ECHXVC

There is an IKEA hack that can be found on the Internet, since it's pretty pricy. Also, check Craigslist.

I am not sure if 10 months is too young for it. They also make guards, or you can make your own, to put around it so your LO doesn't fall through the gaps.

I have a month to go before my LO is born so I don't have any experience on these things. Currently, gathering info and ideas.

We have the Skiphop owl sound machine and love it! It has multiple sounds, can be a nightlight, and also projects things onto the ceiling.

ETA: here’s a link to it on Amazon. It’s just under $30! There’s also an elephant version that’s about $10 more.

I’m overthinking baby sleep spaces.

My initial plan was to have a crib in the nursery for when baby is a bit older, and a pack n play in our bedroom for sleep until he’s old enough to move to his nursery.

Then suddenly I realized...well, what about when we’re not upstairs? I doubt I’m going to want to walk up/down the stairs with a baby multiple times a day to put him down for naps. I doubt I’ll want to just hang out upstairs all day when the kitchen, TV, life, etc. are on the main level of our house.

So then I thought maybe I could put the pack n play in the living room, and put the crib in our bedroom until we move him to his own room. But I doubt the crib will fit through the doorway, and it’s kind of a tight hallway, so I’m not sure how feasible that is if it means we potentially would need to disassemble the crib when we want to move it.

So now I’m debating whether or not we need to buy some sort of bassinet for the bedroom so the pack n play can go in the living room, or maybe some sort of travel bassinet (like this) to keep in the living room for daytime naps. But that thing doesn’t look particularly comfortable on its own since it’s meant to go in the bed with you.

Any suggestions/painfully obvious solutions that I’m missing?

Summer Infant Pop 'n Play Portable Playard https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KBGTRAC/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_0sCBwbBJ759YM

This one! It's amazing. Sets up and tears down in less than a minute, no tools or anything, and is big enough so he doesn't feel trapped like in the pack n play / not so huge that it takes up my whole living room

I'm super excited, we went out to a baby resale store and got a $180 fancy pack n play for $80.

Have you tried to swaddle with hands up? My first hated being swaddled too, with her arms in, and this one she liked and it kept her from waking herself up (she used to rub her face/eyes in her sleep then wake up). Love To Dream Swaddle UP Original, Swaddle Blanket 1.0 TOG, Small 3kg-6kg, Grey https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0081GJ038/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_AMeQDb1B650SH

I bought a portable playpen of Amazon bc I too bring my baby to work - works really well. Easy to put up and put down and he still has space to move.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00KBGTRAC/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1498957675&sr=8-1&keywords=playpens+for+babies&dpPl=1&dpID=41ScPp5hwoL&ref=plSrch

I think it was that and the fact that the back is velcro and there is a battery pack that could be pulled out. Those would be my guesses. I will say it's super soothing though. So is the Twilight Turtle

Invest in a pop and play. It's super portable, much bigger than a pack and play, and you can put the kiddos toys in it and let them go to town no stress.

Summer Infant Pop N' Play Portable Playard https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KBGTRAC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ruHvybGPTTGXX

Here's one I've read about on the parent listserv: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EAHSBV4. There are a few out there, same general concept, and I'll add them if I can remember their names.

Ha here's another for 60 freaking dollars but the reviews are very positive: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00NC10YFA/

We have a pack and play with the newborn napper about 4 feet away from my side of the bed. When she wakes in the night and can't be settled back down, I put her in a co-sleeping basket next to me in bed so she can feel and smell me right next to her without me feeling like I'm going to smush. It helps, too, because I like to sleep under lots of blankets, so this makes sure she won't get caught under them. https://www.amazon.com/SwaddleMe-By-Your-Side-Sleeper/dp/B00YBADM1O/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1468854006&sr=1-1&keywords=co+sleeper

My baby enjoys a shusher (any white noise machine would prob work) it calms him and he now knows it means time to sleep!

https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Shusher-Soothing-Miracle-Babies/dp/B00D2JN87I

We had to stay at my MILs shortly after I gave birth and they had a bed on the floor as well. We brought a cosleeper (https://www.amazon.com/SwaddleMe-By-Your-Side-Sleeper/dp/B00YBADM1O?keywords=cosleeper&qid=1540237711&sr=8-2&ref=sr_1_2&th=1) and it really worked great. You can have it on the floor if you're not comfortable with the baby in bed with you.

Pretty sure a Director's Commentary track mentioned that they simply used projectors ( they also ended up using projectors to rear project the event horizon in many episodes to cut back on CGI costs ).

However, I don't recall if they went into the technical details of whether they used actual projectors with video, or existing (stage) projection lights and messing about with a refractive element in front to get a play of light effect (similar to this ), or what..

We got a visual alarm clock for our son's birthday. It's awesome because I can set it to have white noise (and light up, if desired) during sleep times. When sleep time is older, the white noise goes off and the face changes color. It's seriously awesome and my 17 month old already has gotten used to being in his crib until the alarm goes off. I leave a board book in bed with him so even when he wakes up early he'll entertain himself until wakeup time.

This is the one we use:
My Tot Clock My Toddler, White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NC10YFA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_mO65Bb6W7ABEN

Before you cut out his nap, try a clock like this it worked wonders for all my previous nanny kids. They either stay in bed and end up sleeping more, or they get up and play quietly till the light is yellow.

Threenagers are hard enough with a solid eight hours of sleep. Sending restful vibes!

This sleep sack - We used Baby Dee Dee sleep sack on my son all last winter and it worked awesome!

Or maybe a weighted blanket?

We just set up a playyard (we have this one: http://amzn.to/1puKehA) With foam tile puzzle pieces from target. Just set it up last week for our 6 month old and he LOVES it!

I had this swaddle for my baby at infant size, and it was AMAZING. Arms can move pretty freely but this should stop the big startles!

https://www.amazon.com/Love-Dream-Swaddle-Original-13-18-5/dp/B005ULUZIQ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=J42OB9YWFSXY&keywords=swaddle+sack&qid=1562096551&s=gateway&sprefix=swaddle%2Caps%2C177&sr=8-1

If I had not just bought this I would be all over that. But my budget for light products is depleted :( :(

I do have a birthday in six weeks though... and my dad and stepmom are going to be gone for the entire month... pretty sure they owe me something awesome. ;)

I have these swaddlers and they are awesome. I'm not very good at swaddling with a blanket, and it took way too long for me to do it, plus trying to do it on a screaming, wiggly baby is not fun. These swaddlers are soooo much easier, and baby slept great in them... at first... until he didn't like being swaddled but that's later on down the road. ;)

This has been a good night-swaddle-to-sleep-apparatus for our newborn. The first three weeks were a sleepless nightmare. The last three weeks have been much more restful.

http://www.amazon.com/Love-Dream-Swaddle-Original--Gray-/dp/B0081GJ038/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452583247&sr=8-1&keywords=Love+to+dream+swaddle+up

We had one of these until she outgrew it.

I can't imagine having a newborn in another room. With her in the bucket, we could roll over and check on her without lifting our heads. Amazing. And do you really want to get all the way up and walk around the house five times a night? Nah. Keep the kid with you, at first.

Then, look: A lot of couples trade off feed/diaper/soothe cycles. Your turn, my turn. That's dumb. That ensures you're both zombies the next day. What you want to do is trade off whole nights. On your night, you pack mom off to go sleep in the guest room, you keep the kid. If she's breastfeeding either pump and feed a bottle, or take the kid there, sit, take her away. Mom will get to where she can feed in her sleep--REALLY.

That way nobody's more than 24 hours off a night of mostly decent sleep.

I have a standing bassinet and a cosleeper that I use in the bedroom depending on how baby sleeps. I usually start her in the standing bassinet, if she sleeps through the night (5/7 nights) she stays in (obviously) but if she needs a quick feed she’ll usually just stay in bed/cosleeper with us. We also have a pack and play and two rock and plays on the first floor that get shifted around. She used to sleep in the bassinet portion of the PNP but now we just use that as a diaper station. She’s only two months old now so I’m sure she’ll get more use out of the bottom portion when she’s much older.

I was looking at this one since it's essentially a mini nursery and if I get pregnant right away, we won't be able to set up a real nursery until we move. I like the one you showed me too :)

Work out childcare backups -- people you can call if you have an emergency, need a date night, need a daycare.

Work out a pediatrician -- ask friends, your girlfriend's OB-GYN.

What I'm glad I had:

• car seat that doesn't turn into a baby carrier
  
• boppy pillow
  
• wearable baby carrier
  
• swaddle blanket
  
• a rock-n-play
  
  What I could have waited on:
  
  
• stroller until 6 months
  
• finishing his nursery until 6 months
  
• toys until 3-4 months
  

We used this:

https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Infant-Play-Portable-Playard/dp/B00KBGTRAC

Not nearly as big (especially if you combine multiple giant gates together), but it's easily transported to non-child-safe houses and works great outdoors too.

Until they hit ~2.5, and decide that the tiny area allocated to them is no longer big enough, no matter how many toys are inside. And then they hit 3, and are able to climb over the walls.

My son tossed an animal into his crib this weekend. He climbed in after it, and asked to be let out. Thank heaven there's some kind of cognitive block there; he hasn't yet tried to climb out but he certainly could. I think I have less than a month left before nap time becomes much more difficult.

this one I thought worked well and the mesh sides made me less paranoid. Not super comfortable to nurse to sleep in but it's possible. Once my LO hit 3 or so months I felt comfortable enough having her sleep next to me and now get so much glorious sleep

We had the little basket for the bed from Swaddle Me / Summer Infant. I liked it because I could easily take it downstairs and plop it on the coffee table and she'd nap there during the day for the first several weeks.

amazon link!

Edit - to add link and it looks like SwaddleMe and Summer Infant are ultimately the same? Either way. Only down side is no easy to way to get an extra sheet but it does dry very fast.

I found this little cosleeper on Amazon. It's a tiny little crib that fits in your bed. So the baby is still in your bed, but has their own little area. I've really liked it.


https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00YBADM1O/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1469751531&sr=8-1&keywords=cosleeper&pi=SY200_QL40

would love to know too...
here we go :3
https://www.amazon.com/Gideon-DreamWave-Soothing-Projector-Speakers/dp/B00I9IRM92/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Congrats. Just had our first 6 weeks ago. Warning, the first month is sooooooo hard! No sleep! 6 weeks is only moderately better. Everyone says 2 - 3 months is when it starts to even out. We'll see.

Also, this book is a lifesaver.
https://www.amazon.com/Happiest-Block-Revised-Updated-Second/dp/0553393235/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=10OKYUFFJWPPG&keywords=happiest+baby+on+the+block&qid=1550595906&s=gateway&sprefix=happiest+baby+o&sr=8-1

It comes on DVD and is worth the 40 minutes.
We got it from our library, it is probably on YouTube as well. (I didnt read the book, but there is an article that sums it up, DVD helps you to see the positioning)

Article: https://www.happiestbaby.com/blogs/baby/the-5-s-s-for-soothing-babies

And steal 3 of the infant swaddle blankets from the hospital They are a little bigger than the junk you buy at the store and will come in handy. Then get these, they come in a variety of styles:
https://www.amazon.com/SwaddleMe-Original-Swaddle-3-PK-Busy/dp/B013GYQVCW/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=swaddleme&qid=1550596102&s=gateway&sr=8-3

A week at the most. We did it where where you go in and comfort every 5 minutes night one, 10 minutes night two and three, 15 night four, etc. Buying a shusher and this giraffe helped a lot as they gave my son comfort and now he knows when the shusher and the giraffe come on it’s time to sleep.

Son #1 has the giraffe.

Son #2 has the sheep.

They have different sound settings and noises. And very portable! And cute.

Sounds a lot like my daughter! Once we tried one of these vs. a regular swaddler she started sleeping a lot better. She was still up a few times a night but it was a LOT less.

We started doing Ferber at 6 mos and didn't really follow through, because it is hard. Then tried it again around 8 months and she really took to it then. I feel like it's really hard to "sleep train" a baby under 6 months and I know it really sucks and seems never ending now but it does get better. We go through periods were she sleeps almost all through the night (maybe one wake up) and others where she wakes up 2-3 times but never really any more than that and it's usually due to teething or having a cold.

I think it might be the Love to Dream. I've been contemplating buying either this one of the Wombie but can't decide which one would work better for a newborn.

We got a pack-n-play set that has a changing table + removable rocker/bassinet thingy from amazon, and that's stationed next to my side of the bed. It's stocked with diapers & wipes. I also have a nursing basket that will travel wherever I decide to feed, with snacks, burp cloths, nipple cream & breast pads right next to it. We're lucky that our nursery is kind of an en suite room off our bedroom, so I can walk 10 steps to the glider if I want to rock little one.

Baby Shusher Sleep Miracle Soother https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D2JN87I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_eyVXCbGTMYTDX

Pack n' play for older babies and toddlers or a portable bassinet/co-sleeper for infants are my go-tos.

Graco Pack 'n Play Playard [Nimble Nook] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PX8PPQS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_7E44AbH3PS8B0)

[Co-sleeper] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YBADM1O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_DG44Ab3XAJ23T)

The Original GORILLA GRIP Slip-Resistant Incontinence Mattress Bed Pad Cover (52” x 34”) Absorbs up to 8 Cups, Waterproof, Leak Proof Edge, Machine Washable, Super Soft, Reusable Enuresis Bed Wetting https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LR99P44/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Ugh6AbQFC1TM3

https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Shusher-Soothing-Miracle-Babies/dp/B00D2JN87I

This worked great to get our baby asleep. Kind of expensive since there isn't much to it, but $30 is nothing if it gets them to sleep more.

I have this one: https://www.amazon.com/SwaddleMe-By-Your-Side-Sleeper/dp/B00YBADM1O
I like the tall but supported mesh sides and washable mattress cover. However, little dude has literally never slept in it. He wakes up instantly when I set him down in almost anything. The only thing that has even sort of worked is the rock'n'play. Sometimes he'll stay asleep in that for 45 min- 1 hour.

Lol! No it's actually made for beds but maybe I could have just used a ShamWow, hahahah.

The Original GORILLA GRIP Non-Slip Incontinence Pad for Bed Wetting

1)Swaddle blankets for newborn
https://www.amazon.com/SwaddleMe-Original-Swaddle-3-PK-Busy/dp/B013GYQVCW/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1496771259&sr=8-1&keywords=swaddleme
2) Several different types of pacifiers/bottles (you don't know which they'll like and they do have a preference)
3) Travel swing - because they're smaller/take up less room/ and you can move them from room to bathroom or whatever and less expensive.
https://www.amazon.com/Comfort-Harmony-Kingdom-Portable-Swing/dp/B00E3RKC36/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1496771354&sr=1-1&keywords=travel%2Bswing&th=1
4)Breastfeeding pillow: https://www.amazon.com/Comfort-Harmony-Kingdom-Portable-Swing/dp/B00E3RKC36/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1496771354&sr=1-1&keywords=travel%2Bswing&th=1
5)Carrier:https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Ktan-Original-Carrier-Black/dp/B000UYFULU/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1496771644&sr=1-1&keywords=ktan

In my house we don't have a TV, so it has never really been an option. My children are now 5 and 2. We did allow both kids to play with an iPhone/iPad for about 30 minutes a day from about 18-20 months, but no screens at all before then. Furthermore, that screen time is only allowed for a few minutes in the morning, and a little longer before the get to bed. Between breakfast and dinner it's almost never allowed.

At the age you're talking about, really 90% of the time the answer is we wore our children. I'm not saying attachment parenting is for everyone, but both my children were worn from a very young age. They both loved it, and my wife and I still regularly wear our 2 year old nearly everyday. For young children that are used to being worn, they generally love just watching whatever the parent is doing. If you imagine being a infant able to roam around the house at adult level, watching all the things you're doing (cooking, cleaning, whatever), it's really as engaging as TV.

When they get older, they might not want to be worn for the whole day, but usually long enough to get tasks done. My older daughter didn't like playing by herself till she was about 3, so I certainly understand the challenges. That said, if TV is not an option, you just learn ways to cope. For instance, we have a learning tower in the kitchen. My 2 year old will spend an hour and half happily watching me prepare dinner from her high perch. Part of that time is snacking, part of the time is watching me, and sometimes she just colors. The point is, without the TV option, both parent and child learn ways to cope.

I believe most of the time when parents say they "can't" function without the TV playing part time babysitter, it's more of a lack of imagination on the parent's part than any any real justification. That said, I don't think children watch will be ruined for life. It's more that without a TV, it opens up many more possibilities for both parent and child, albeit requiring a little more effort.

I'm going to chime in to advise against this since it would be a safe sleep hazard the same way crib bumpers and stuffed animals are. Even if baby seems like he isn't mobile enough, the deaths do happen which is why the guidelines exist. Not to mention that you never know exactly when baby will become mobile enough to roll over and get stuck.

ETA: What about one of these style cosleepers? This one is only $32.

Also check out something like this. https://smile.amazon.com/SwaddleMe-Original-Swaddle-3-PK-Busy/dp/B013GYQVCW/ref=sr_1_7_s_it?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1520520111&sr=1-7&keywords=swaddle&th=1

I have it and it is worth every penny

You could put something like THIS around it. Not aesthetically pleasing but functional with the ability to put it away when not needed.

What about one of the constellation night lights? I know they're technically for babies/young children, but they're actually really cool.

http://www.amazon.com/Cloud-Twilight-Constellation-Night-Turtle/dp/B000BNQC58

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cloud-b-7323-ZZ-Twilight-Turtle/dp/B000BNQC58/

Edit: Added UK link -- there are a bunch of different varieties beyond turtles too.

We co-sleep but that’s obviously dangerous with an infant. I found a bassinet that lays on the bed (this one) and after she was rocked to sleep we laid her in there with a clip-on breathing monitor.

Here’s a big thing: people will offer to help you. TAKE THEM UP ON IT. Don’t be a martyr, let someone take the baby for an hour so you can take a nap. That’s a tip from my mom that proved useful.

Does she not sleep in bed anymore because of the diaper? If so, something we did with our pug who wore a diaper but would not accept not sleeping in bed with us, was to get this. He was good about staying in it.

Does she have spine problems? Our boy sat like that too.

Save a few bucks.
Twilight Turtle

That playard is really cool, but just a tip - it's way cheaper on Amazon!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00KBGTRAC/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1492548762&sr=8-1&keywords=summer+infant+pop+n%27+play+portable+playard

Does he like sleeping with his arms up? The Swaddle Up was a lifesaver for us. At six weeks you're likely just starting the second wonder week, which was the worst for us. Thankfully at 9 weeks old her fussiness and colicky fits disappeared.

I have a playpen like this: Summer Infant Pop N' Play Portable Playard https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KBGTRAC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_1WBdzb0F3WVKK

I just stick him in there with some toys, cheerios or a pouch, and something to drink. I throw on some baby Einstein or Daniel Tiger or whatever and shower away. I keep the door cracked so I can hear him and I make sure the doors to the house are locked in case anyone just walked up but that's it.

Which Pack and Play did you register for? The one I want has a bouncy chair with it, so I'm not going to register for a separate swing or anything either.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005UV0USQ?colid=QY2U0MCE4MR4&coliid=I315S19832OJI6&psc=1&ref_=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl