(Part 3) Best products from r/NewParents

Things I forgot:

• waterproof crib sheets (put em all on so you can just take one off in the middle of the night
  
  
• wet bags if you’re trying cloth diapers
  
  
• more pacifiers
  
  
• white noise machine (someone gave me an old one but it broke fast)
  
  
• Velcro swaddles (it’s easier)
  
  
• fabric carrier, like the big scarf kind (way easier than the straps kind)
  
  
• baby monitor
  
  
• for breastfeeding: I liked silicon caps (think like pasties) but not at first! (I got mastitis while I was learning the schedule because the silicon caps don’t let anything out). I also tried these https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H75C9Y3/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_COqSDbHEVP2QQ which were obvious on my large breasts but I wore them around the house and they were super convenient.
  
  
• Milk storage cups
  
  
• hand pump (easier and less time consuming than electric pump)
  
  
• pumping bra for electric pumping (you do not want to hold the flanges to your chest for a half hour or more, it’s depressing and you can’t scratch your nose)
  
  
• stroller that works for babies under a year: I got a stroller that a baby would sit in, totally didn’t realize it wouldn’t work until he’s good holding up his head. Ended up getting a good deal on a jogging stroller/car seat combo that worked out way better.
  
  
• postpartum underwear (I didn’t forget these but they were soooo handy and comfortable)
  
  Oh and we were totally blindsided by the fact that some hospitals try to jerk you around on the car seat, we were told (right before we were supposed to leave) that we had to take baby out in a car seat, and the one we had wasn’t a carrier type so my in laws ran out and bought one. I liked it better anyway, so luckily when I got the jogging stroller deal it came with a carrier type car seat that clicks into the stroller too.

• bottles of a few different brands; some babies will take one brand but not another. Most come with size 1 nipples, buy a few "newborn"/"low flow" nipples just in case.
  
• a breast pump, even if you don't think you'll need one, your insurance will cover it (thanks obamacare). My wife stayed home for a while after our daughter was born. Having a pump (1) gave her relieve when she was engorged and (2) gave me an opportunity to handle some night feedings, etc.
  
• a thermometer. In most cases, the "is my baby ok" question boils down to "if they're not blue and not running hot, they're probably fine". having this on hand before you need it is a stress reducer
  
• a split of champaign (if you're so inclined). At some point, you'll be at home; just the three of you. The kid will be sleeping, the house guests will be gone and life will seem still for a moment. Celebrate your new life and then go take a nap.
  
• a friend lined up to make a pharmacy run shortly after you get home. If you wind up needing any meds (pain meds are pretty common after childbirth), you tend to want them ASAP. Personally, I nearly fell asleep in the car on the way to the pharmacy to pick up my wife's meds; a co-worker of mine totaled his beamer on the way home from the pharmacy after his kid was born ;-P
  
• I'm a huge fan of the various "sleep sacks" that allow you to swaddle without needing to do blanket origami.
  
• Kimono onesies are awesome. I have no idea why they're so expensive and hard to find: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IFFNHL6. They allow you to dress the little monster with the scary "over the head" thing
  
• make sure that some of your clothes are "0-3" and some are "newborn". If you have a tiny baby, the 0-3 stuff is too big; if you have a big baby, the newborn stuff is too small... it's weird.

Here are a couple things we did when flying with our little guy (although he was a year old)...

• bottle for take off, and bottle for landing
  
• playing with post-it notes kept him pretty occupied
  
• along the same line as post-it notes, he loved playing with stickers.
  
• coloring/drawing apps on iPad for him to scribble
  
• he liked putting a handful of little pom poms in a clear plastic cup, dumping it out, and refilling it
  
  Make sure to get yourself a drink when he falls asleep - you're going to need it! In all honesty though, it wasn't as bad as we were expecting it to be. You guys will be fine!! Don't take it personally if any of your neighbors give you the stink eye. I feel like for the most part, people are pretty understanding of babies on a flight. Good luck!
  

Hey, congratulations!

The first thing I bought for my wife, after we found out we were pregnant, was the Snoogle pillow. Basically a contoured body pillow for you to sleep with. It especially helps in the later weeks of pregnancy.

A sitz bath is awesome, for you, right after childbirth.

The newborn Boppy is good for the beginning. We used it A LOT, especially in the first couple of months.

The regular Boppy is a must have, in my opinion.

Swaddling is the best, and BREATHABLE swaddle blankets are important. We have a couple of muslin blankets that we’ve used from day one.

The American Academy of Pediatrics book, ‘Caring for Your Baby from Birth to Age 5’, is a an absolute must-have general reference book to keep around, in my opinion. It gives you a lot of the exact same advice and tips as your pediatrician will. Every now and again, my wife and I read or re-read the section that correlates with his current age range, and then we read the upcoming age range. It also answers a lot of basic health and care questions that many people just don’t think to ask.

Also, quick piece of advice: Don’t get attached too early to any specific brand for anything that’s meant to go in a baby’s mouth (bottles/nipples, pacifiers, teethers, etc.). Your baby will choose her preferences. It kinda sucks to go ahead and buy and wash the full Dr. Brown’s bottle set, only to find out that your baby doesn’t like Dr. Brown’s, and prefers Munchkin Latch instead. Trust me.

The classes are actually less helpful than you would think. It's more piece of mind for my wife. I put the website below for more info. You can gain most of the information from the internet.

Bradley website
http://www.bradleybirth.com/

Really good book. I have like a thousand bookmarks on various pages. It goes through what you will be going through, how your boyfriend will be able to tell what you are feeling and what he should be doing to make you more comforatble and be more supportive. I highly recommend this one.
http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Childbirth-Bradley-Way-Revised/dp/0452276594

Good luck and congrats!

I wouldn’t say a dock a tot is essential, but it definitely made our lives so much easier!! I recommend getting the generic version on amazon if you want to save about $150. We’ve been using ours for the past 3 weeks and it’s amazing! We also use cloth diapers as burp cloths and you can never have enough! Congrats to you guys!

Baby Lounger and Baby Nest Sharing Co Sleeping Baby Bassinet - 100% Soft Cotton Cosleeping Baby Bed Premium Quality and Bigger Size (0-24months) -Breathable & Hypoallergenic Portable Crib(Grey) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PDBT191/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Z-BTDbAPDJ1SV

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

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!

We have the iBaby M6S and it is amazing. I highly recommend it! This thing has been a huge part of our sleep routine / training. It has a great camera, infrared, noise machine, temp sensor (used this a lot when our AC was on the fritz), and the remote access from any smartphone is a huge perk. We just flip out our phones to check on the baby.

iBaby Premium Baby Monitor M6S,Smart Wifi Enabled Total Baby Care System 1080p Wireless Infant Safety Camera Kit with Wi-Fi Speakers, Night Vision, 360° Pan, Air Quality Sensor, Motion & Sound Alerts https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DQID38I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Js2WBbNSZRZGY

Sounds like you tried everything that we did. The Sleep Suit worked for a while until our LO starting rolling in it. We tried just about every product imaginable.

After the sleep suit, we had great success with the DocATot. We bought the smaller one first and then the “Grande” size when he grew out of the normal sized.

Another thing we did was introduce a “lovey” as a sleep crutch at the advice of a book we read. We used this one (Baby Boys Plush Puppy Dog Security Blanket https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UKEN84G?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf) and worked so well that we bought 4 more just to have one always on hand if the original was in the wash, lost in the car, etc.

It’s to the point where he knows what the original is and will only accept that one, but that’s a completely separate issue!

Those two adjustments got us through some growth spurts and sleep regressions but no method is fool proof.

Best of luck and let me know if you end up trying any of these. I’ll be curious for baby #2!

I hope the night went well for baby and that you were able to get some sleep! It will get easier! If you can, and you think it will help, get the Angelcare Sensor Pads (or other name brand) that monitor movement. I have the HiSense Sensor Pads one and it is INCREDIBLE. Might help ease your mind mama. Good luck!

Random thoughts:

• If you’re nursing, are you avoiding caffeine?
  
• When you put him down, have you tried both “scooped” (like a snug-a-puppy) and flat (like a bassinet) surfaces?
  
• Have you tried Happiest Baby on the Block soundtrack? (Hair dryer one sometimes works for our second. Always worked for our first.)
  
• Pacifiers? (If you’re not opposed to them and his latch is pretty established)
  
• Have you tried rockers with vibrating motors built in?
  
• Do you have a mobile? (We have a cheap one. The really tinny sound works sometimes, even when top-quality versions of the same songs fail to help when played over our high-end speakers)
  
• Have you checked his temperature? (I’d recommend using a skin thermometer, such as: Braun Forehead Thermometer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EP1ZLO0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ElgRBbEK6DAY1)
  
• If he has a low fever, check with his pediatrician to see whether you should give him baby Tylenol.
  
• Does he sleep when you take him for a drive?
  
• When you swaddle, do you make it tight enough that he can’t wriggle at all? (I recommend SwaddleMe, the straight jacket of swaddles)
  
  Hopefully something in here helps? Good luck!
  
  (Edit: my eyes! Formatting.)

• prep as many meals as your freezer can handle a couple weeks before bebe is due
  
  
• Your Baby and Child is the only book you need to read. And you can just read as the baby ages. Full of practical, grounded and time-tested advice. I read some of the “how to be a dad” books but honestly never learned much...it’s mostly intuitive. Split the labor if you can, be supportive if you can’t do the work (ie breastfeed)...not rocket science
  
  Congrats and good luck

We used a toothbrush for babies with silicone bristles. Really we just went through the motions. At this point, it's more about establishing the habit than a need for scrupulous dental care. You shouldn't need toothpaste... just a little water on the bristles.

Ours didn't mind at all, so maybe we were lucky. I like the idea of letting him play with the toothbrush and gnaw on it himself. At this age they can start to remember stuff they don't like and anticipate it, so if you can keep from making it a regular struggle, that would be in your favor. And if it has already become one, maybe change up your routine a bit, so that you are doing it at a new time, new way, new setting (whatever) to reintroduce it in a more favorable way.

good luck!

Skip Hop FORMA Backpack - Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R4PXGQ4/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_WqxHwbYBCZZTW

We have this and I love it. I had more of a conventional tote for a bit before, but I found that it didn't really keep things organized and everything fell into the middle of the bag. This is great because it sit up and only the top half unzips, making it easy to find and get what you need without everything falling out. The side pockets are great for bottles or sippy cups, and I used yo keep burp clothes tucked in one of them when our son was younger.

You're going to be a great dad! I recommend Ina May's guide to childbirth it helped me have such a blissful birth. And the womanly art of breastfeeding seriously, buy then now, or borrow from library!!! Best of luck!

I use a super cheap zmodo camera with night vision. It's not sold as a baby monitor, but works well as one. It connects over wifi. It has night vision and a microphone, and you can access the video stream through phone apps as well as through a website.

Couple notes: I tape over the power light, but not the red infrared light. Also, I put it in permanent "night vision only" mode rather than automatic mode, since it makes a pretty loud clicking noise when it switches itself between day and night vision.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XCTMSCW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_CsQNAb631M2HJ

We recently became parents and just found out how utterly tiring it is to care for a baby every day. We got a bunch of clothes and toys for our baby shower, but in retrospect what would have really helped was some kind of activity tracker (sleeping habits, feeding times, etc...). We recently got one from Amazon and that helped a lot to keep schedules every night.


In particular we have this one (this is in Large format but I think there's a smaller one but I couldn't find it). Anyway here it is: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1711965677