Best products from r/beyondthebump

Overall tips:

• You don't need 10 of everything. Start with a couple. If you find you use them/could use more, THEN buy them. Especially true for washcloths and towels. Half the time, we use adult ones and they work just fine for LO. (pacifiers, bottles, etc included in this!! Some LO's hate certain kinds, love other kinds). Don't bother with changing pad covers. They'll just get peed on. We have the waterproof changing pad which works just fine.
  
• More clothes = more volume of laundry, more storage space for too small, current, and future clothing. Less clothes = laundry more often, but smaller loads and less overall storage space. Mix and match outfits are HUGE here. (ie: we were a strict "black and grey" base (bottoms, socks, shoes). We bought no navy blue and very little brown. Most bright color tops and onesies paired perfectly with blacks and greys, and we didn't have to buy tons of shoes to match certain outfits, etc. Playing dress up is fun, but keeping clothing simple and practical has saved us a TON of money in the past 2 years. Each season we have 2 "nice" outfits to go out in/celebrate holidays in. The rest is play clothes, simple clothes, etc.
  
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  Specific items:
  
  
• we liked the Avent bottle system. I bought a starter kit that came with everything we needed for the first 6mo. I liked that the pieces are all interchangeable with the spectra pump, and that they're even interchangeable with Avent sippy cups, etc. We made a pact to rinse bottles every night so we really didn't have too many. We had this, plus the 2 5oz spectra bottles that came with my pump + we bought 2 additional 9oz bottles. Later, we bought 2 sippy cups.
  
• Get the ikea high chair. Cheap, disassembles for travel, and works great! SUPER easy to clean, and my 2yo still fits in it with no issues. Both grandparents have one at their house as well.
  
• Skip baby carriers/swings/bumbo seat/etc until you think you need it. The only 'container' we had for LO was a rock and play (before all these issues) that we used as a bassinet. Otherwise, we'd prop him on the boppy pillow (that i used for breastfeeding) and he'd chill happily on the carpet. Some kids don't do well with this, but mine did. I would have wasted so much money/space on 'containers' that my LO quite frankly didn't need. Later on, we bought a doorway jumper which he loved!
  
• Get a nose frieda and gripe water. We waited too long on both items.
  
• The oxo wipe holder is one of the best items we own that was a surprise gift to us. We use amazon refill packages to fill it.
  
• THIS BOOK. It sounds like you're going the 'minimalist/practicalist' route and this book was super helpful with making me realize that you just DONT NEED A TON OF KID STUFF. I've used so many 'adult items' to entertain and care for LO that it's ridiculous how many toys and other items we DONT have or need in our house!
  
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  Don't skimp on carseats and strollers. We use the keyfit carseats. Both grandparents had extra bases in their cars so all we had to do was 'click in' the seat to the base if traveling with them. SUPER convenient and well worth the cost if you're constantly switching cars. The citi mini stroller has been amazing for us as well. Love the one-hand fold!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Good luck!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A couple things I haven't seen mentioned..

We love our blue tub.


Our LO loves the wubbanub pacifier.


Target diapers and pampers (or publix) wipes are what we prefer but it might be a good idea to sample a few different brands to see what you like.


Aden and Anais muslin swaddles or SwaddleDesigns are great for swaddling but also as burp cloths, or a light blanket for while in the car seat or stroller.


Infantino unison carrier is what we are using for a structured carrier right now. I can wear it and do dishes or clean up while he naps in it. I prefer it over a wrap like Moby or Ktan because he feels much more secure and his head is fully supported. I have an ergo and Tula carrier with infant inserts but I haven't tried them yet so can't review them. The infantino is so easy to put on and very comfortable.

YAYS:

Chux pads, hands down, were the best purchase we made. Those saved us so much laundry and so many diapers. The link is hit or miss - one box we got was great and quilted, the second box was not quilted and they fall apart more easily. Which really sucks because we're not going through several a day anymore, so it has time to really fall apart before it gets soiled. Even the shitty ones are incredibly helpful.

A Haakaa breast milk catcher. Best money I've ever spent. I stopped using it every day at 11 months PP. 11 months of daily use.

An electronic nail file. I cut too close once, and decided I don't ever want to do that again. It's quiet, it has a little light on it, two speeds, and a bunch of different nail heads.

Stacking cups. Don't know why we even have other toys. Did you know you can throw them and chase after them and then throw them again, mom? You can put them inside each other! You can put them in the toy basket and then take them out and then put them back in again! You can knock them down when mom & dad foolishly stack them up! You can clack them together! You can bang them against EVERYTHING!!

This inflatable tub. It has a little shoehorn for the crotch so you can use it before baby can totally sit up by themselves. We're still using it because my child is dead set on committing suicide in the bathtub.

Sleeved bibs. Or as we like to call them, eatin' ponchos. We got some "art smock" cheaper ones to alternate with, but the Bumkins one is 👌👌👌 so much better. The art smocks are fabric-y on the body, so they stain.

A ring sling. No link because I actually borrowed from my local babywearing community. But I checked out a ring sling back to back to back. My chonker outgrew the Moby wrap I had (which was super hot and a PITA to get on and off) by 3 months when I finally discovered ring slings. Ring slings are like the cool, breezy older sister.

A yoga ball. We spent hours bouncing our child.

NAYS:

This Graco Swing. Well, any swing, but this is the one we had. Of the several swings at daycare, my baby tolerated one kind...for a few minutes. Obviously this is a my baby thing.

A walker. We got one used from a garage sale before we realized they're not really recommended for babies anymore.

Any chew-toy specific type teether.

Mom of an EFF baby here as well!

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

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

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

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

It is hard to know what each individual baby will like at different phases, but having a variety at your disposal is very helpful.

This is one of the first things my daughter liked

https://www.target.com/p/skip-hop-silver-lining-cloud-teether/-/A-75556852

She also liked this one early on https://www.amazon.com/HEVEA-643162-Panda-Teether/dp/B00EORBYO6

As time went by, she wound up liking munchkin frozen gel ones (used with a pacifier leash) https://www.amazon.com/Munchkin-Teether-Toy-Ring-Pack/dp/B016D833EM

And the comotomo one with the “fingers” https://www.amazon.com/Comotomo-Silicone-Baby-Teether-Orange/dp/B00913DY3W

We had baby banana for a first toothbrush and it doubled as a well loved teether https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Banana-Training-Toothbrush-Teether/dp/B002QYW8LW

Eta - also soft books, especially the ones with dangly silicone shapes for teething were huge in those early months. Have plenty!

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

Day and Night Feeding

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

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

First of all, congratulations! That is so exciting.

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

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

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

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

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

Just a heads up in case you are clueless like I was: babies don’t really play with toys until they are like 10 months old. Or older. Sure, maybe they will like to chew on something or look at a mobile before then but that is pretty much all you need. The world around them is so stimulating, they don’t need extra “stuff”. Also half the toys I bought my now toddler she has 0 interest in, even tho I read reviews and bought things popular with other people’s kids. :p I would wait til your kiddo is older and you can get a sense of what they might enjoy.

If you must get something buy these stacking cups and some sort of teething toy. And maybe a baby gym altho my kid was never really into that either.
https://www.amazon.com/First-Years-Stack-Up-Cups/dp/B00005C5H4

ETA: oh yes, and some plastic links and a cheap baby rattle.

There's a great book I'm reading now called Montessori From the Start here that describes how to incorporate Montessori principles, activities, etc. from birth to age three. I highly recommend it if you are interested in Montessori ideas.

Rough explanation: Montessori promotes independence and fine motor skills for toddlers by giving them opportunities to do activities around the house that we as adults may do. Example: you're cooking dinner while LO has a small "station" of his own on the floor where he may be washing a veggie you might cook or "measuring" pasta for you.

Granted doing this sounds like kids may get bored feeling like they're doing chores, but as so many of you notice kids loving doing these household activities. It's a way for them to become a part of your household community rather than using toys as the learning tool.

Definitely not claiming to know all about the Montessori way as I am halfway through that book but really enjoying the ideas so far.

My daughter is very "meh" about Sophie, but she loves this little banana baby toothbrush (which I guess isn't technically a teething toy). She's 13 months old in a few days, has 9 teeth (going on 12!) and chooses this banana over everything else, even the freezer ones. When my son was cutting his teeth, he loved the Dr. Brown's watermelon teether - it was the only one he ever liked.

EDIT: I'm seeing now a few other recommendations for the banana brush - it really is awesome!

Could you do a washcloth in warm water? I imagine the texture alone might be part of what makes that soothing?

I don't know if you have started solids but ours really enjoyed apples and cucumbers - you could keep them out of the fridge at room temp if he hates the cold that much. They seemed to be really good when teething, he would gnaw on them and made him feel better.

Recently, mine is super interested in this banana shaped teething "toothbrush" - he goes to town on it! Also, the plastic teething necklaces are often a big hit while baby wearing (I wear the necklace, not him, and he chews on it while he's in the carrier.)

We had a wonderful, cooperative 3 year old until about a month ago and then suddenly he stopped listening to anything we said. He started refusing to get in his car seat, or get dressed for dinner, or anything. We started yelling more and feeling horrible about it but we were at our wits end.

A friend of mine recommended this book https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/150113163X/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm about halfway through it and it's honestly amazing. It's been a huge help. It's basically a book of tactics that I can try out to see what works.

My 18 month olds have started to love that book, so I don't think the age range is necessarily wrong. You're giving a gift for the whole year of 1-2. Plus I just love the concept and how fun it is for parents too.

But the toy my twins are most obsessed with is honestly the simple stuff like this stacking cup set. Our nanny who has worked in infant centers for years got them a set (and some stacking boxes) and it is by far what they play with more than any fancier toys. Sometimes boring stuff is good too ;)

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

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

I don't know who you are, but I feel like we might be mama soulmates. My baby is 7 months now, but so much of what you talked about is what I've also experienced:

• my husband just left on a business trip and will be back Thursday night (😩)
  
• I had preeclampsia and wanted unmedicated birth but ended up getting and epi because the BP meds stopped working and then I gave birth 15 minutes after it was administered
  
• my baby had reflux
  
• my milk didn't come in right away and we had to supplement
  
• my baby had jaundice the first week
  
• my baby cried and cried and was in pain a lot from tummy issues
  
• I didn't want to bed share, but my child screams every time I lay her on her back in a crib or pack and play, so I don't really have much choice.
  
  So let me start off with this: you are a good mom. I know that in the midst of all of the doubts it can be hard to hear this, but the simple fact that you keep trying and that you care enough to do so, is enough. The first few months are the hardest, I think, because our babies can't tell us how to help. What helped me get through that time was the knowledge that my baby would never remember the tummy aches, the reflux, the heel pricks for testing for bilirubin levels, or me floundering figuring out how to be a mom. What she would remember is that when she cried I came to her.
  
  Just so you know, therapeutically speaking, what builds resilience in a baby/ child (and even an adult) is not the absence of hardship, but the repair after the hardship. In other words, being a good parent is not about having to prevent every possible negative thing; as hard as we try, that would be impossible! We have no control over whether or not our baby's tummy hurts, or if we can't get the bottle fast enough, or when they fall down in the pursuit of learning to crawl. Instead, what actually builds resilience is when your baby does cry, you are there to comfort him. That teaches him resilience. You modeling this "damage and repair" scenario for him will be the foundation for him to build his own ability to self-soothe and to learn that when things aren't optimal, they won't necessarily stay that way. So what you are doing right now is very important. (Source: I'm a therapist).
  
  I can also commiserate with the feeling of making all the wrong decisions. It's frustrating loving your child so much and wanting the best for your child, but not knowing what that is. I remember the first two months when we were ssupplementing and her tummy hurt so bad and we would try every formula. But I'll be completely honest with you, I don't think it was the formula that was hurting my child's tummy.
  
  I finally figured out that she was crying every time that she was trying to poop or when she had gas. My doctor said that sometimes babies, even full-term, have an immature digestive system. He said that it sometimes takes time for them to learn how to coordinate relaxing their booty muscles while pushing. He explained that they will try to clinch and push at the same which will make them feel like they're constipated when they aren't and hurt their little tummies. My little girl finally stopped crying every time she had to poop around four months old. In my case, I'm pretty sure my doctor was right.
  
  As for reflux, we noticed a big drop off at about 5 1/2 months for our baby. We stopped giving her Zantac at around six months. With the reflux we would burp her halfway through her bottle, and then at the end of her bottle. And we would wait 30 minutes before laying her down, or an hour before putting her on her tummy. That seemed to help. Now it is no longer necessary. We burp her at the end of her bottle and I wait 15 minutes before letting her get active, but I can now put her down right away.
  
  Bedsharing, I've got nothing for you 🤷‍♀️. We put her in a cosleeper bassinet until she was 5 1/2 months old when she outgrew it. I don't think my baby's problem was reflux when it came to sleeping. I mean it was certainly a factor, but she's still struggling. She slept great in her cosleeper, but there is something about the crib and pack and play she doesn't like. I'm thinking it may be the hardness of the mattresses, but I'm still working through that theory. She will sleep on us, in the bed beside us, or in the bed without us. We've tried every sleep training model and trick that anyone could give us. The only thing that seemed to help was giving her Nightime Gripe Water . It has camomile and it seems to help her at least initially get to sleep.
  
  Sorry for the long post, but I hope at least something I've said here helps. Focus on the cuddles. You're doing great, mama!

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

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.

I have that play gym with the clouds and stuff. Very cute, but I wish I chose something with brighter colors/more contrast.

I don't know why these aren't more popular- wipeable changing pad covers:

https://www.target.com/p/wipeable-changing-pad-cover-with-plush-sides-arrows-cloud-island-153-gray/-/A-51911979#lnk=sametab


This was my favorite and most used registry gift by far:

https://www.amazon.com/Boppy-Newborn-Lounger-Elephant-Love/dp/B014A7MABU/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1501707491&sr=8-1&keywords=boppy+lounger

Hi! We had similar issues and used the Love 2 Dream swaddle up transition Bag - it was a godsend! Love 2 Dream transition bag

Good luck 👍

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

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

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

I know this is not what you asked, but my pediatrician recommended the following probiotic when my daughter was diagnosed at 4 months with awful silent reflux. It was a complete game changer for us, and it helped within hours of the first dose.

https://www.amazon.com/ProBiota-ProBiotic-Absorbs-Quickly-Dairy-Free/dp/B003RY51GO

The other thing that helped us was Mommy's Bliss gripe water. It contains a small amount of baking soda, which helps to neutralize stomach acid. It can help give immediate symptom relief, even though it, by itself, is not a long term solution. Maybe it could help during the transition between meds?

If I remember correctly, my baby was swaddled until about 7 months. Around 6 months I decided to move her into the Swaddle Up and took the first sleeve off within the first week. The second sleeve took another couple of weeks but we did eventually take it off.

We also just recently just went through the 8-10 month sleep regression and it was literally hell. She was up every 1-2 hours and sometimes would not fall back asleep for 3+ hours. In the middle of it, I decided to implement a strict routine (something that I had been reluctant to do earlier as I thought it would make it easier for her to be more flexible). This included a strict wake-up time and bed time (although we were pretty strict about the bed time beforehand) and scheduled naps. I think your baby is still a little young to begin sleep training, but I really don't think it's something you should be worried about. Unfortunately our generation of moms seems to be increasingly judgmental and the age of the internet has only helped that along. I cannot go on sites like Pinterest without seeing things like "Things you MUST do for your baby to sleep through the night!". Remember that every baby is different and you need to do what works for YOU. In terms of sleep training, that may include things like the Ferber method, the No-Cry method or the Cry it Out method, do what you think is right - not what people tell you you should/should not do. We tried all of these methods - and she still does not sleep through the night. The method that worked best for us was this one. As I said before, she still does not sleep through the night but things have greatly improved and it is certainly easier to get her back to sleep.

Sorry for the wall of text, I hope some of this was helpful. Try not to let people get into your head too much!

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.

This is the model I have, but I went to a babywearing meet-up group today (we get together to see other carriers, try them out, buy/sell, and borrow) and there were women doing it in mei tai style carriers and kinderpacks, any type of carrier like those make it pretty easy. My little one is just shy of 3 weeks old! It's a little difficult with him because he is so little. I tried it again and was successful, but he unlatched a little more often that time. Not too bad though.

One of the moms at the meetup group showed us this awesome trick! She breastfeeds her daughter in a ring sling and she bought a bunch of 3 dollar tanks at old navy cut the straps and sewed them into a loop that goes over a nursing bra. This website explains it. So she wears either the same color or a coordinating color and when she puts her daughter in her carrier just lifts her shirt up so it's already ready, but her tank covers her torso. Then she just pulls down the tank top and feeds her. It was the coolest trick I've seen. I'm so glad I went to the group just for that tip alone!

I had that same tub and loved it, except for using the darn hammock, he felt completely insecure in it.

However I wish I had found the Primo Eurobath earlier. We bought it when bubs was getting too big for the blue bathtub but I didn't feel he was ready to be in the tub yet. The little kid section of it seems so much better to me!

He finally enjoys baths but during the early moths we just did them quickly and efficiently and wrapped him in one towel to dry immediately and then transferred to a warm, dry towel immediately after that!

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

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

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

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

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

It’s not just a talk through method, it’s trying to understand where the child is coming from and setting up the child for success in terms of behavior. It’s helpful to understand child development and psychology. Talking through and not using physical punishment does not equate to not setting up firm boundaries and guidelines for your child to encourage good behavior. Here are some helpful books and resources:

https://www.amazon.com/Talk-Little-Kids-Will-Listen/dp/150113163X

http://www.janetlansbury.com/

Yes!! This tub is amazing!

PRIMO EuroBath, Pearl White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000056OV0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ZBLNzb7WAMZ7E

I put my LO in it from 2 weeks. The infant side holds them up completely. I just put a couple inches of water in, and put a wet warm washcloth on her chest to keep the rest of her warm. I don't have to hold her at all. Even now at 5 months, she thrashes around and kicks her feet and splashes with her arms and the tub still holds her up great!! I just sit and watch and can use both hands to wash her. We have never had an issue and I bathe her everyday. Plus, when she can sit up I can just put her on the other side so I won't have to waste water filling up the whole tub.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have you tried this? I'm using it to transition my LO from swaddling and it mostly helps when he's not FREAKING out: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Dream-Swaddle-White-Striped/dp/B0081GIZ52/ref=sr_1_6_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1519238115&sr=8-6&keywords=love+to+sleep+swaddle

It allows him to have his arms up like he likes to, but he cant scratch his face or pull at his paci, if anything it pushes it back in.
You could try one arm-in, one arm out, and see how she does.

We are also trying to give him a lovey to pull on/hold on when he's not swaddled/to self-soothe when we are not around/prepping to sleep train. We put the lovey in bed with us so it could smell like us. This might be weird but I am willing to try anything because I miss sleep.

also check out preciouslittlesleep.com for more ideas/info.

Good luck!

I use this one! It's awesome. There's 2 ways to sit in it, one way for newborns/babies who can't sit up, and you can put them on the other side to sit up and bathe. Fair warning though, it's pretty big. But it's supposed to work for children up to like 3 years old. I looove this tub and Charlotte loves it too. She actually cries when I take her out. (: PRIMO EuroBath, Pearl White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000056OV0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_39iozbKCMDPE0

As he gets older, you may want to buy a carrier like an Ergo. It's super comfy (can be worn on front, side or back when baby is older). It's great when he's fussy and wants to be held but you need to heat a bottle or cook dinner, vacuum, grocery shop, etc. Gives you both hands free. I use it still with my 16 month old who weights 24lbs. It was $$$$ but worth it in my opinion. And you can always resell it when you are done with it and prob get half of what you paid. ERGObaby Original Baby Carrier, Black/Camel https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001JZU8O8/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_2tq-tb0DC8FN9

The beautiful Boppy Lounger is what got us through many many weeks (until baby could roll) in combination with some co-sleeping while side-lying nursing. I personally didn't feel comfortable co-sleeping until I felt like baby was more physically sturdy and her movements would wake me up so I felt confident I could safely sleep next to her. We transitioned her to a co-sleeper (not attached to the bed) and when she could sit up on her own, to her crib. Change was definitely doable as we felt another set-up was more appropriate. Sleep. Please sleep!

https://www.amazon.com/Boppy-Newborn-Lounger-Elephant-Love/dp/B014A7MABU/ref=sr_1_2_s_it?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1518933170&sr=1-2&keywords=boppy+lounger

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

This is the one I got:

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

We used the boppy lounger in the corner of our sectional couch when she was still super tiny. Then I used this travel bassinet because I was paranoid about her being out of sight but wanted her out of the lounger. We eventually transitioned to her being in her bassinet in our room with a cheap baby monitor (sound only) and I'm just now having her nap in her crib at 5mo. Honestly, if we were to have a second, I'd probably start them off in the bassinet in our room - it helps them get better sleep and allows for you to get more done OR actually nap when baby naps since you're not holding them.

I honestly don't know anything about baby led weaning.
I just wanted to suggest this product-
http://www.amazon.com/Munchkin-Fresh-Feeder-Colors-Count/dp/B000GK5XY2

You might already use it, but I thought I'd mention it just in case. :)

Edit: in case you haven't seen it before, you just pop the fruit or veggie into the mesh bag and snap it shut. You LO can hold on to it by themselves and chew away at it. They're happy and you dont have to worry about them choking on foods. :)

I had success with the Comotomo silicone teether. It's easy to hold and my LO was able to chew on the angled fingers without having to hold the teether just right, which was a struggle with other teethers. Worked the first time I put it in LO's hand!! I was so happy and relieved that LO could finally chew on something and that it was easy to maneuver no matter how it was held.

At that age, the best toys seemed to be the ones he could get his fingers into to help him grip them. The Oball rattle was his favorite, and he liked the Comotomo teether too.

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

Use this style to create a horseshoe around the stairs. This will allow the dog to safely jump over it.


Regalo 192-Inch Super Wide Gate and Play Yard, White https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B003VNKLIY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_CigdAb71H6VQM

It's only recommended that babies use jumpers for max 15 minutes a day, so I wouldn't buy something that I could only use for that short amount of time. My baby is 5 months old and in the last month I bought the foam puzzle mat pieces that I can arrange on the floor and let her roll around. I propped up a cheap door mirror sideways on the wall so she can look at herself while rolling on the mat, and she loves to stare at herself and laugh. I also have a few different small toys for her. The favorite for the past few weeks has been this one: https://www.amazon.com/Manhattan-Toy-Sensory-Teether-Activity/dp/B000BNCA4K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1497457560&sr=8-1&keywords=winkel+toy

Honestly, I thought Sophie the giraffe was over-rated, but I caved and bought it anyway. I was right. My son has absolutely no interest in it at all. His favorite teether has always been this - http://amzn.com/B00913DY3W - which is a lot easier for tiny baby hands to grasp. It was the first thing that he could hold.

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.

Replace it with a bar style. The ones that have holes end up being like a ladder.

[this is the play yard we use to block off our kitchen. the space is oddly shaped.](Regalo 192-Inch Super Wide Adjustable Baby Gate and Play Yard, 4-In-1, Bonus Kit, Includes 4 Pack of Wall Mounts https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003VNKLIY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_1UJnDbE5ME8SZ)

We have a play pen since he started crawling, now he mostly holds the walls of the pen and stands there looking at me lol I am in there a lot. We got him a sit to stand toy http://www.amazon.com/VTech-Stand-Learning-Frustration-Packaging/dp/B0053X62GK he started playing on his tummy. Then sitting. Now he pulls himself to stand and I'm teaching him how to push it. I think it's a good investment and has a good assortment of activities.

How to Talk So Little Kids Will Listen / Faber

https://www.amazon.com/Talk-Little-Kids-Will-Listen/dp/150113163X

I also loved What to Expect the First Year, Happiest Baby On the Block, and books about Elimination Communication (We read the Diaper Free Baby. I thought it'd be cuckoo, it's pretty down to earth, we use the techniques.... with diapers.) Also Rachel Coley's Begin With A Blanket and Simple Play

My baby couldn't figure out the toys marketed as "teethers" (I feel like she just has a small mouth and they're sized for babies with much larger mouths?), but she really liked chewing on these Lots of Links. Plus they're useful to attach toys to strollers/carseats/etc. so it's worth it to have anyway.

Have you tried sizing up his pacifier? I think the Avent Soothies for instance are sized 0-3M, then 3M-6M, so maybe he's outgrown his paci size?

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.

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!

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.

I have the Fisher Price lion walker. Here is the link:

https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Y9854-Musical-Lion-Walker/dp/B00BNQEVWS

My neighbors went outside with us almost every afternoon also and we all brought the walkers out. Our sons would always end up trading. Theirs was the Vtech one:

https://www.amazon.com/VTech-Learning-Lavender-Frustration-Packaging/dp/B0053X62GK?th=1&psc=1


Her baby is older and was already walking but he always wanted to push one around since my son was doing that haha. I think the Vtech one was more entertaining and a bit taller. Anything works though, the babies just want to push it.

We just got one of these for our twins : Bright Starts Activity mat

We change it up a lot by adding different toys *pretty much any of their toys can be hooked onto the activity centre after getting a pack of toy links

At 6 months they still love it and are entertained by trying to unhook toys from the arches and I still change up the toys regularly so it doesn't get boring (though now they will pull a toy off and roll away and play with it vs just hanging out on the mat lol).

Our son was a hardcore swaddle addict too. We used these once he started rolling: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0081GIZ52/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It keeps their arms contained but leaves them up where they can still be used to maneuver a bit. The arm pods zip off, so you can transition with one arm out. With both arms open, it's just like a sleep sac but is still tight around the chest, giving the same feeling of being constrained without pinning down the arms. They worked really well for us.

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

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

I second the bath! We bought this tub and started giving our LO a bath every night and I think it's helping her get the hang of a night time routine. She used to stay up past 11, but now she eats around 8, we give her a warm bath and she is dozing off at 9-something.


Also I recently bought The Wonder Weeks for my Kindle and it has helped me feel like I'm playing the right "games" with her. It tells you about what new changes are occurring when and what you can do at that time in baby's development.

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 currently have a 4 month old and she loves her exersaucer, crinkle books, oball, links, and the small Sophie. Depending, you may be able to get free books from the Imagination Library if you aren't already signed up!

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

And thanks! I wish you luck!

Ideally you don’t want baby in the car seat for more than 2 hours at a time without taking a break.

For toys... get some new toys to introduce on the drive. Some ideas off the top of my head from that age are things that shake a make noise (you can put some dry rice in a sealed container and it makes a cheap shaker), touchy feely books like jellycat books like this or this, large silicone straws, multi textured balls, winkle toy

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

I've had this Infant Optics one for a year now and it's been great. The volume is pretty loud and the screen works well though it's not huge.

Here's a link to the one we have. My son loves mashed up frozen strawberries or bananas in it. The mesh adds some nice texture on the gums, too, like a washcloth (which he also loves).

https://www.amazon.com/Munchkin-Fresh-Feeder-Colors-Count/dp/B000GK5XY2

This has been a lifesaver for me and my 3 week old. She let's me put her there next to me on the couch and will sleep for a few hours in it.

Boppy Newborn Lounger, Elephant Love Gray https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014A7MABU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_qO-Rzb4489R98

We introduced a couple toys and the play gym at that age. I attached extra toys to the play gym to keep things interesting. You will be surprised how fast the grasping happens!

Tummy time is something we did not do (LO had terrible reflux) that I wish we had. If you prop a mirror in front of baby they will probably like it a lot.

So we found that the high chair we got for home use (a Graco one) leans back too far and doesn't give our son a good foot rest. I'm a big Feeding littles fan and if I went back in time, I'd un-get this high chair. Last week we switched to using his portable one (a fisher price). He's been eating much better since we made the switch. In our case, no chair at the grandparents or the uncle we visited so it's def been worth it for us. Plus it's now essentially our main chair. If you plan to do many visits beyond just your parents over the next 2-3 years, it's probably worth it. You could also look at a more portable style that you could take to restaurants. Our son is 15 months and restaurant ones are not great for him yet.

Cups! he used these so much as he was learning to crawl. We'd stack a tower and he'd scoot to knock it down! Throws them all over now. Best $2 I've ever spent. ETA I see they are $4 now but still worth it.

Ive been looking at this one (haven't bought yet) but it's supposed to be good for babies that like to chew their fingers! https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00913DY3W/ref=pd_aw_sim_75_of_14?ie=UTF8&dpID=41DMLkW5OwL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_SL500_SR100%2C100_&psc=1&refRID=VHEADS269C6JHT76HJJ3

We were given this one as a gift at our baby shower and I love it!

We use the Infant Optics DXR-8 (link below). Very easy to set up, auto switches to night vision in low light and you can pan/tilt the camera remotely. It's been great so far.

(https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ECHYTBI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_93HUDbZGMA8CS)

cheerios? they soften up right away in the mouth and are fun for pincer grasping.

Or cut soft things like boiled potato or sweet potato ultra small -- so you know it is physically impossible for her to choke on them. If she gags then, I would just encourage her that she is learning to eat and swallow and that she will get it if she practices.

Could you freeze purees and put them in one of those mesh feeders, or put fruit on one of those?

I would return. They aren't safe or helpful for walking, plus it's huge and something that can only be used for a short amount of time. Instead get a push walker (this V-tech one is popular) and was actually recommended to us by a PT to help encourage walking indepedently.

[this one](Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor with Interchangeable Optical Lens https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ECHYTBI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_vesPybASVPHBS)

Two years and going strong. My sister had an expensive Motorola one and it blew out in less than a year. She got this one by my recommendation and loves it.

Was coming here to recommend this exact tub. We still use it with our 20 month old, its great.

https://www.amazon.com/Primo-340W-PRIMO-EuroBath-Pearl/dp/B000056OV0/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3REC49L03LK66&keywords=primo+bathtub+baby&qid=1572368638&sprefix=primo+bath%2Caps%2C159&sr=8-4

Like this? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0053X62GK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_fOdXDb6TERHYN

If so nope! I'll add one to the list. I least like our LO will definitely walk before a year, or at least stand. She has very strong legs and can stand now at 2 mo by holding onto my hands. 😳

We have the Infant Optics DXR-8. It comes with two lenses, has audio, and good display. It often shows images of a child who was just put down doing crazy stuff like waking up and moving wildly, and it often emits what seems to be a crying noise, but other than that, it's great! 😉

Mine will be 7 months old the day after Christmas and I'm asking for:

• Sleepers in 12 and 18M
  
• Board books
  
• Walker - Not for walking really, more for the things on it.
  
• Poppin Pals - A classic!
  
• Stacking Cups
  
• Textured Balls
  
• Wooden Car
  
  My in-laws are getting us a convertible car seat. We are picking out the one we want and they're ordering it. Memberships would be good too! We have an aquarium close by that would be a good place to go when it's rotten outside. Which is pretty much all summer here!

We did things like muffins and pasta with our leftover purées. We froze some fruit ones as cubes and put them in one of those little mesh feeder things for a nice little treat sometimes too.

This banana teething toothbrush. It's available at babies r us and other local stores as well as Amazon. My LO had two teeth at 4 months and literally carried this banana everywhere. It just so happens to be super cute when she uses it plus it brushes her new teeth at the same time so that's a win-win! I couldn't have survived teething without it. LO is now 1yr and still looks for her "nanner" when her teeth are hurting!

My LO would never take frozen teethers or wooden or plastic she only preferred this soft silicone texture and it's tough to find! You may have to try a few textures before you find the right one.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002QYW8LW/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?qid=1458000024&sr=8-1&keywords=baby+banana&pi=SY200_QL40

Is this for the bottom of the stairs? You can DIY one with pvc pipes and fabric that will fit between the railings, seen here. There are also a super wide play yard by Regalo that you can set up in whatever configuration you want, and screw each end into the wall.

Water table is HUGE with my kiddo.

Tunnel

sit to stand

I could suggest more but hopefully that will kick start some ideas!

Like some other people have mentioned, I wasn't a fan of wifi enabled monitor. So I ended up with this one: https://www.amazon.com/Infant-Optics-DXR-8-Monitor-Interchangeable/dp/B00ECHYTBI/

I like it so far, the range is good enough for us to go the neighbors house and still pick up the video and the monitor has a battery so we can take it around the house with us.

This saved us. My little girl use to fight being swaddled nightly.
Love To Dream Swaddle UP- 50/50- Gray Stripe- Medium 13.2- 18.7 lbs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0081GIZ52/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ppFpxbCG9KE7Y

Do you have any kind of play space you can take him to? I remember that age as being particularly awful for the reasons you state; I think they just need a lot more stimulation and new stuff. I would take my daughter to some indoor play spaces that had infant/wobbler play areas; it gave her a chance to see new stuff and most of them also served coffee so it was a chance for me to get out and enjoy myself a little more.

Failing that, just take him out to new places: grocery store, zoo, the mall, etc. It will help YOU if you're not stuck in the house with him, and any novelty is good for them as well. FWIW, it got a little less awful once my daughter was walking (just before 11mo), but we still needed to get out and do things so no one got bored.

ETA: We didn't use it constantly because of some of the worries about walkers, but a toy like this can really help when they're in the almost-walking stage: https://smile.amazon.com/VTech-Stand-Learning-Frustration-Packaging/dp/B0053X62GK/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1P7PD4SQWPT2M&keywords=walker+toys+for+1+year+old&qid=1569165982&s=gateway&sprefix=walker+toy%2Caps%2C206&sr=8-4

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

Love to Dream Swaddle UP 50/50, Gray, Medium, 13-18.5 lbs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0081GIZ52/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_tH4EzbADT9Y45

The zip off arms make this so worth it

Casper got a lot of teething relief from the mesh feeders filled with frozen fruit (http://www.amazon.com/Munchkin-Pack-Fresh-Feeder-Colors/dp/B000GK5XY2), Think outside the melon -- Casper's favorite was bananas and mangos :).

Mine is just six months old now, but she loves books with touchy-feely things, these plastic links/rings, and anything that crinkles. We're probably going to get her a wooden activity cube thing.

This v-tech walker has been awesome - okay, minus the songs... the songs are now featured in many of my nightmares.

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

I think other folks have some good ideas for the awkward space. Keep in mind, the older they get, the more they want to hang off/around the gate. We have wall-mounted ones and my kid always liked standing on them. We have one pressure mounted gate at the bottom of our stairs and it cannot handle the same level of abuse/climbing.

Someone else mentioned the Regalo 2-1. I have a metal version of this and it might be a good option for you to block off the stair area. This is the one I have - I use it as a play yard.
https://www.amazon.com/Regalo-192-Inch-Super-Adjustable-Mounts/dp/B003VNKLIY/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=regalo+play+yard&qid=1555346485&s=gateway&sr=8-4

Thanks for the info on the grooming kit - I'll look into other options. Did you return because the items looked low quality?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000067EH7?tag=blvisitor-20&th=1 is the tub I have.

I am getting the Medela pump, so I will look into the Medela bags - THANK YOU!

There is an update to "How to Talk," written by one of the original author's daughters (she has her own credentials, btw). I just purchased it and plan to dig into it - it's geared for kids 2-7, so I think it'll be more helpful for me right now!

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.

We use this too, and found that my son likes the 50/50 version better so he can suck on his hands.
[Love to Dream 50/50 Sleep Positioner ](Love to Dream Infant Swaddle UP 50/50 Sleep Positioner, Gray, Medium/13-19 Pound https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0081GIZ52/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_HE.KxbVNZ79X0)

This is the one I’m getting:

Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor with Interchangeable Optical Lens https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ECHYTBI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_JaKbAbC77VPCN

I’m expecting number two and I’ve been doing research on baby monitors that can have two cameras, and have split screen, or dual monitoring. This one by FAR has the best reviews of any that I have looked at.

We bathe only once a week. We got this baby tub and love it! It's so simple (and cheap) and the hammock part is really comfy for baby (ours is about 2 months old too)

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.

We got a set of stacking cups from amazon . We used them to stack and keep his interest during tummy time, and I shit you not these 3 dollar plastic cups are STILL his favorite toy. He’s a year old now. But he can stack them, put them inside each other, he puts blocks in them and carries them around. He throws them and discovers gravity. He hides goldfish and Cheerios in them. He uses them in the tub. Puts them in the toilet.

Best purchase ever.

I love bath time! What kind of tub are you using? I have one of those fancy Puj tubs but I hate it. This one is so much better. My newborn can sit in it securely enough that I can take my hands off of her for a second to get soap/wash cloth/towel prepped.

But really there is absolutely no reason to bathe a baby (or most adults for that matter) every single day. I love bath time and we still only do it 2-3 times a week.

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.

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)

https://www.amazon.com/VTech-Stand-Learning-Frustration-Packaging/dp/B0053X62GK

he loves it. now that hes walking for real he uses it mostly to chase the dog. so we've definitely gotten lots of use out of it.

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.

It was cheaper when we bought it, but we have this and really like it.

I loooved using a tub with an infant net. Something like this. Once she was big enough, we took out the net, but it made bathing a newborn so easy. I wasn't afraid I would drop her or drown her. I highly recommend something like that.

We actually bought this one to go around our brick fireplace. It’s adjustable and huge and works great to block space.

we started feeding cereal at 4 months, but started with a little in his bottle each night to get his tummy used to it. Then when he started teething, I put some frozen fruit into [these things(https://www.amazon.com/Fresh-Food-Feeder-Pack-Green/dp/B000GK5XY2)] and let him go to town. I think 5 months was when we started purees and it does take a while for them to figure out what to do with their tongue. Gagging is normal, choking is not. Watch a video and read some articles on how to know the difference, it will help you feel better about it. Keep following your gut but don't be too afraid.

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.

Here are some links for the product in the above comment for different countries:

Amazon Smile Link: This


|Country|Link|
|:-----------|:------------|
|UK|amazon.co.uk|
|Spain|amazon.es|
|France|amazon.fr|
|Germany|amazon.de|
|Japan|amazon.co.jp|
|Canada|amazon.ca|
|Italy|amazon.it|
|China|amazon.cn|




This bot is currently in testing so let me know what you think by voting (or commenting). The thread for feature requests can be found here.

We had the same thing happen around 13 months. It involved molars and was miserable. You don't use tooth paste until around 3 years old, at least, according to our pediatrician and google. We use this toothbrush. Kiddo loves it. We brush her teeth every night before bed. Then we either give her a clean binkie, or wipe off her current one with a butt wipe.

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.

Henry is 1 and we're going to get him an activity cube. At 9 months, maybe the VTech walker thing would be nice!

This thing and this thing. The walking thing has a bunch of stuff on the front that's good even if she's just sitting.

Are you looking for something for bedsharing? Something like this?

I've been using the baby banana toothbrush on my guy: http://amazon.com/dp/B002QYW8LW He's teething so he likes having something to chew on anyway, and he really seems to like how the rubbery bristles feel on his gums.

This one worked for us - convertible from tiny baby to little baby to unstable kiddo who wants to sit up.

The First Years Sure Comfort Deluxe Newborn to Toddler Tub, Teal https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000067EH7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_7poUDbR5GT3NT

Get this

PRIMO EuroBath, Pearl White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000056OV0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_tZzwDbK0RCGGM

Toddler sitting on one side while 5m reclining on the other with a bath sponge like this

Summer Bath Sponge, Aqua https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BB8DZNC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_l0zwDb44K94GB

Yep! These ones: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003VNKLIY/ref=mp_s_a_1_6_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1503162520&sr=8-6&keywords=baby+gates

Munchkin Fresh Food Feeder, 2 Pack, Blue/Green https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GK5XY2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_EePzCbEPQHZXH

If she'll sit calmly in a high chair, you could try the mesh fruit bag thingies (these things) with some frozen fruit chunks in it. That helped my little girl.

We started at 4 months and, while we did try some purees, she prefers chomping on those mesh feeding bags. She loves mango and avocado but we've also put banana in them. The handle is big enough for her to hold and I don't have to worry about her choking.

Munchkin Fresh Food Feeder

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

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

What about those mesh teethers you can fill with frozen fruit or frozen breastmilk/formula, or even just crushed ice?

Also, my kid doesn't like those big frozen teething rings but she likes this little rubber sophie the giraffe, and this banana toothbrush. On bad nights I give her tylenol before bed. I also rub her gums sometimes with my finger, which she likes.