(Part 2) Best products from r/NewParents

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

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

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


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

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



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

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

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

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

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

Look for a babywearing group in your area. You'll find lots of different carriers to try out and find something that is best for him. I find some of the carriers difficult to get on on my own, but there are tricks to each of them that you can learn at a meet-up. Also, YouTube is great for how-to videos. I would suggest something other than a Baby Bjorn. Boba, Beco, Tula, Ergo are just a few. I also love the ease of a padded ring sling (specifically I have a Maya Wrap ring sling). He might find the adjustments on a buckle carrier too much. But the ring sling is beautifully simple! And it is good from newborn through toddler.

I would imagine a number of ways to put baby down that are higher up (than the floor) would be helpful, like a Rock n Play sleeper

You might look for a car seat that is extra light to carry. The Maxi Cosi Micro is the lightest one that you can get.

And check out a good stroller. Whatever you do- get one that you can push with one hand! If you have a "baby boutique" type store nearby, you can go and check them out and see what will be best for your family. I suggest a higher end store than a Babies R Us because they can be extremely helpful in finding one that is a good fit and pointing out features that might be useful. Even if you don't buy one there, you can get ideas of things that might be helpful to look for. Some strollers have a more complicated folding system that require 2 hands while others are super easy and just require you to pull a strap.

I know a lot of people love it, and I do think it has tons of useful information in it, but I was never a fan of What to Expect.... I just never liked the tone of it.

As far as development, pregnancy issues, etc., The Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy was the most useful of the pregnancy books. If the baby will be breastfeed, A Nursing Mother's Companion was pretty useful.

Websites were also useful, babycenter.com has some videos and the pregnancy tracker, as moosen25 mentioned, but unless you are big into drama, beware the forums. Some of the smaller threads, like the first timers for a particular birth month are less drama-filled, and I found it reassuring to see/share what other people who were at the same place in their pregnancy were experiencing.

I think the biggest pieces of advice I have are:

• 1. You will be overwhelmed with information. There is so much out there, just remember, books and websites have detailed information about every possible little thing that can go wrong. In reality, there is a very, very small chance that any of the horrible things you read about will happen.
     
     
• 2. Really think about the kind of birth experience that you want, and be open to the possibility that as much as you plan for what you want to have happen, you need to accept that it may not go as planned.
     
     
• 3. If you are thinking of a home birth with a midwife, read other peoples birth stories and experiences with labor, but read up on having an epidural, inductions, and C-Sections as well, because it is better to be able to prepare yourself beforehand in case any of those other scenarios become necessary. You will find from reading that one intervention usually leads to requiring more interventions and increases the probability of needing a C-Section.
     
     
• 4. Find a doctor that you feel comfortable with, but if you are having a child in a hospital, prepare yourself for the possibility that the person you have been seeing for nine months may not be the person who delivers your child. If you would like an additional advocate in the hospital and someone to help with labor look into a doula. I can't offer much advice as far as using a midwife, but I'm sure some of the other parents can help you out with ways to find a great midwife.
     
     Finally, congratulations. Take some time and let it sink in, and enjoy it.
     
     Edit: One more thing...before the pregnancy gets to far advanced take a vacation with your SO and have some special alone time before you become a trio.
     
     Being a parent is great, to me, my son is the absolute best thing in the world, but don't forget to take some alone time to be with your SO every once in awhile.

Google this and read all the articles you can to find what works for you. It's very manageable, a little like a circus but keep a good attitude and you will fly fine, lots of good comments here already!

Our items: Carry-on with laptop, diaper-bag backpack, and a Coleman soft cooler to keep milk frozen + other food, **stroller (Summer-infant 3D-flip, awesome stroller!), and Ergobaby baby carrier!

Security: Read the websites and pack according to the rules, have one of you (mom) can carry all the baby stuff. Be very nice to them, they are doing their jobs, and will help you through, the stroller may be x-rayed. One of you will walk through with the baby, make sure you don't ding if you can avoid it to make life easier.

Flight: Boarding: Pre-board! Wear the baby aboard in an Ergobaby or other carrier. This gives you ability to bring a carry-on, get your boarding passes/id, carry stroller, etc. Gate-check the stroller using a bag: https://www.amazon.com/Childress-Travel-Standard-Double-Strollers/dp/B003554H9M

Flight: Entertain, feed, snuggle, sleep, bounce, etc. Even learning the parts of the plane can be entertainment like opening the tray, armrests, etc. Obviously attempt to restrain jr from kicking! We didn't have to walk the baby up and down the aisle, but some parents do that, do whatever works.

Flight/Changing: I change the baby on the plane, and have those blue plastic diaper bags and fill one with wipes and put that and a diaper in my pocket, and take an extra to throw out the smelly diaper. No need to bring a full diaper bag. The baby may slide around during turbulence, and laugh, be prepared. :)

Layover: There are often kids play stations around, if not there's lots for a 7mo to be entertained with in the real world. Stroller is great for naps.

Time changes: Switch to the new time right away and hold as best as possible, there will be a transition period so just go with it.

We've done a good bit, always been fine.

A warming story, we adopted our daughter a year ago. She's the best!

They may have baby stuff but the needs of a 1 year old are different than a newborn. I only mention that if they have mostly infant gear then perhaps there are some 1 year old appropriate items you can offer.

This is around the time you get children become more mobile. If their child is not walking yet, she may benefit from "walker" toys that help her learn. Thing you push around to gain strength and practice.

Our one year old LOVES this Fisher Price toy chair that sings when you sit in it. Somebody gave it as a gift and when we saw it we didn't really think she would be that interested. Of course every child is different.

Let me find a link.

Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Chair https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J49UU0I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_nIn2AbMTXB6RH

Also devices to child proof the house would be put to good use. Plugs for sockets, gates, things to soften corners, latches for cabinets, etc.


Do they have a registry for gifts? If they put thought into the exact things they need or want (there are so many brands of everything), you cannot go wrong with anything on the list. Even the stuff that seems less exciting, they will need and appreciate.

You can also offer to help them when they are adjusting to their new life. Go over and mow the lawn or wash dishes, stuff they will neglect until they find a new ballance in their life. Order them a spontaneous pizza. Cook foods that reheat easily, that sort of thing.

we randomly threw this onto our registry because it had spaceships on it, but it turns out that the fasteners are powered by the science of MAGNETS and it is absolutely amazing:

http://www.amazon.com/Magnificent-Baby-Baby-Boys-Newborn-Rockets/dp/B00E0G34DA/ref=sr_1_92?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1410096843&sr=1-92

compared to snaps or buttons, it makes it so unbelievably easy to get the kid in and out of for diaper changes (oh dear lord... so many diaper changes). eventually, we went and bought several more outfits from the same brand at different sizes so we'll have more outfits as he gets bigger.

these clothes are in heavy rotation with our kid and our daycare has told us that if we send him in with these clothes every day, our caregiver will be our best friend.

speaking of diapers, one thing that i wish someone would have gotten us was a gift certificate to our local compostable diaper service. it's pretty cool, they supply the diapers and once a week, they'll haul the dirty diapers out to be composted. not sure if you have that available where you're at, but we really appreciate having it.

here's the service we use in our area:

http://tinytots.com

i love that you're putting so much thought into what you'll get them. i'm sure they'll totally appreciate whatever gift you decide on.

Just gonna throw out some things that I wish I'd had locked and loaded:

A ton of Epsom salt for baths (helps nether regions recover, also great for a relaxing bath for mental health and sore muscles from baby holding). You can make a little spa kit or something if you want, maybe with wine and a face mask or something.

A haakaa or similar. So much easier than a pump, made annoying unused boob letdown less messy, easier to start storing some milk, lifesaver when you suddenly find yourself engorged, easily portable, no power source needed. This one is only $11 and it comes with lots of extra helpful things that the haakaa will be pricier for: NatureBond Silicone Breastfeeding Manual Breast Pump Milk Saver Nursing Pump | All-in-1 Pump Strap, Stopper, Cover Lid, Carry Pouch, Air-Tight Vacuum Sealed in Hardcover Gift Box. BPA Free https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LZ2ZVCY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_giS4DbGYSW769.

Baby wrap or carrier! I can actually survive and feed myself and whatnot without leaving the newborn to scream. Plus he falls asleep well in it and we get to bond. Maybe find a cute one that she'll enjoy, because it covers a lot of your clothes so if she cares about what it looks like keep that in mind.

This is sweet of you, hope she has a happy birthday! And best of luck with your little bub!

I'm not a scientist, but I'm interested in approachable scientific information about child development, and more specifically what I can do to create the best environment and family life for my child's emotional and intellectual development. Here are a few resources that have come up for me:

-Dept of Public Health: there are many resources available from our state public health department. Check if your state has one, or check out ours in WA (the "Watch Me Grow" Series offers month by month developmental information and milestone tracking, and there is information on feeding, testing, vaccines, etc as well: http://www.doh.wa.gov/Publications/PregnancyInfantsandChildren)

-Research Universities: we hooked up with a local research university for inclusion in their developmental studies through the department of learning and brain science. It has been invaluable to our understanding how parents can increase their child's exposure to language, and includes 1:1 coaching, free resources and toys/books, and group sessions with a child development expert, which they pay us to attend.

-A friend who is a speech pathologist recommended reading "Beyond Baby Talk" (https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Baby-Talk-Development-Caregivers/dp/0307952282), for a more in depth look at what is happening with your child's expressive language development and how you can stimulate it.

-A relative that spent 30 years working with children with emotional issues recommended "Between Parent and Child" (https://www.amazon.com/Between-Parent-Child-Revolutionized-Communication/dp/0609809881#productDescription_secondary_view_div_1486152167250) for practical guidance on how you can affect your child's emotional development. It attempts to really get inside the head of a child and answer their true questions, which aren't necessarily the ones they ask.

We had serious issues getting our son to sleep in his crib at night. We even went to a baby sleep doctor (ya they are a real thing).

The doctor recommended the book Sleeping Through the Night: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/0060742569. That combined with his suggestions worked. We only wish we had starter earlier, rather than going a whole year with basically no sleep.

First it's important to make sure it isn't a health issue (ie: ear infection, acid, etc.). Also make sure they are fed enough. You may also want to try a baby sleep doctor to ensure there are no neurological issues or anything.

Routine is one of the most important things. The baby will learn when it is time to go to sleep. We start the route with eating. Then books in the living room. Then he gets dressed into his sleep sack. Next we take him upstairs, read him two more books, pick him up and sing him a song. Then into the crib. It doesn't have to be exactly like this, but this worked for us. We went from having to hold him all night to get him to sleep at all (and he was still waking up every hour) to doing the routine, putting him in the crib and he doesn't cry at all. Heck we can see him laying in the bed awake (via camera) sometimes for several minutes and not making a peep. Its because he knows what is expected of him... babies are a lot smarter than we give them credit for.

Anyway, it is very important that the baby falls asleep in their crib, not before. The key to making this happen and not having them cry for a long time is to make sure they are very tired... so tired in fact that they cannot protest for very long. This worked for us.

He started out crying for a while in the crib, then it got shorter and shorter. If he cried we would go in and comfort him - we learned that it was okay for us to go in, lay him back down and then leave. Each time we slowly extended the amount of time we waited until we went back into the room. We started off with 10 sec, then 20 sec, etc (we actually used a stopwatch since it felt like forever). I think this was called gradual extinction or something like that.

The key is to be consistent with how both parents respond and comfort baby. We did not like the idea of cry it out - tried it once and we both felt awful after 5 minutes. Initially when the baby wakes at night, you can comfort them the same way you have been. Gradually, after several weeks, you can stop doing this. Do not pick them up, but go in and lay them back down (if standing) and you can put your hand on them. This worked for us and now our baby sleeps about 8-9 hours a night. Now the issue is finding a diaper that doesn't leak through at night and working on that nap training.

Be consistent, have a routine, don't give up. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I get what you are going through and am happy to help.

I liked this book tho what to expect and the mayo one are also very good
http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Book-Everything-Revised-Updated/dp/0316778001/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1312012842&sr=1-1

I sometimes go to dr sears website. I am using his alternative vaccine schedule for #2. I highly recommend his vaccine book even if you plan on following the normal vaccine schedule. Its good to know the side effects & all http://www.amazon.com/Vaccine-Book-Decision-Parenting-Library/dp/0316017507/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312012757&sr=8-1

I took a parenting class with my first for like $30 @ my hospital & was truly surprised @ what i learned from the class. I recommend taking one along with a cpr class

Also take the maternity tour @ the hospital you will be delivering at (its free).

Meet with pediatricians before baby is born. It should be free. You want to find one you like & who has similar beliefs when it comes to treating your child. I went thru several with my first before finding one i actually liked. I wish i had found one i liked beforehand instead of going from one to another after my child was born

I also agree on a doula

After going through the comments, it sounds like you're going to be a great uncle despite circumstances! There are some awesome suggestions out there.

Concerning diapers and clothes- I'd lean on the smaller side, we had a full term baby girl that was still at to wear newborn clothes for two months and diapers for 6 weeks which was much longer than we anticipated.
Burp cloths, you can never enough and the Burt's Bees are more but are fantastic. Burt's Bees Baby - Burp Cloths, 5-Pack Extra Absorbent 100% Organic Cotton Burp Cloths, Heather Grey Pattern https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HG74QLI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_pUTzCb90XEXNY

Also, much of this depends on the rest of their support system. If you think there are more people who are trying to help out as well then gift cards or somewhere they can easily return/exchange extras.
And thank you for trying to be there for them!

I use this bottle:

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https://www.amazon.ca/BlenderBottle-Classic-Shaker-Bottle-28-Ounce/dp/B00MVMCUK8

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I sterilized it in my dishwasher (I have a sterilize setting) and have been using it to hold mixed formula. It has been working great.

Could be colic?

This may or may not help but read the reviews: I bought one of these used, we don't use it to put her to sleep, but it's so easy to bounce with her with just your foot and she seems very content in it https://www.amazon.com/BABYBJORN-Bouncer-Balance-Soft-Cotton/dp/B00BQYVOKY?th=1

It is one product that seemed to make the first couple months a little easier for us

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