What are the “must haves” and “not necessary” items when expecting a baby?

[PrincessCoupon]

You do NOT need: wipe warmer

[vjcartagena]

i agree about the NO changing table.
my first we used the kitchen table...small rectangular one for first 9 months.....
we ate at the couch and coffee table...lol

we are expecting our second one in Sept.....bought a new high top kitchen table(bar level)...so the old kitchen table is now in the babys room to be used as the changing table again...lol

bottle warmer...never used...threw away....

i agree w/ just neccessities.....i'm stockpiling diapers/wipes/formula frees

Mom keeps asking what do you want,what do you need....diapers i say.....

used bassinet w/1st, had a hard time w/transferring to crib.....so, no bassinet this time...straight to thecrib as newborn

YES on a swing...my ds loved it!!!

onesies, yes

socks shoes? maybe 1 or 2 pair socks.... NO to shoes for 1st 6 months....i'm in TEXAS.....too hot

hth, victoria

[cutenirish]

Great info ty ladies and gents

[ladywaterwind]

Wow, old thread! lol, but I'll put my few cents in

We live in a very small apartment, so there was just thing that weren't practical for us with the space.

So, no rocker. We used the computer chair and it will rock a bit.

No dresser. We stacked up 2 sterilite 3 drawer dohickies.

No bassinet, just used the crib. Well, she slept with us a lot of the first few months, then transferred to the crib.

Never bought a diaper genie or bottle/wipe warmer, none of those extra things.

[northernmama]

the same thing happened to us - sold all the baby stuff and became pregnant again! Still had the crib - but did things differently second time around.

No diaper genie - just use those tons of bags from all your shopping

Borrowed a bassinet - my third was a preemie - so had to sleep in our room for many months

Lots of onesies and sleepers. I found I had more cutsie outfits for my dd than my ds's. But she was my first.

I used disposable diapers, but cloth diapers were indespensable to us as burp clothes and for spit up and everthing else!! One tip here - put everything in a basket - diapers, wipes and lotion - so someone - even another child, can grab it for you and you can go to room to room. Very important if bedrooms are upstairs.

Diaper rash lotion - but none of the other things like powder or oils.

Receiving blankets - had a ton, used a ton - sometimes it has to be changed a few times a day and if you do not want to be doing laundry every other day, you will want a few.

Little washclothes - much easier to use on a NB than the big adult ones. We still use them.

Never used a monitor, music soother, light show thingies, diaper holder, etc

[mnnice]

We will be caring for a newborn baby soon for a relative who is in prison. Our youngest will be 12 by then so it's been awhile since I've done this. I've started stockpiling diapers so that's covered. Obviously, this baby can't be bf so I'll need formula. How do you stockpile formula in advance? How do you know which kind to buy? What if they baby doesn't like that kind? I bf both of my kids so have no experience with formula.

Depending on the facility she might be able to pump and I think it would be great way for her to participate in the raising of her child/provide something no one else can. I pumped a lot of milk with a $30 hand pump (Avent Isis).

Also I'd check with WIC. You might be able to get formula that way since it's based on parental income (I'd think hers would be pretty low.)

[mnnice]

My must have's would be

a sling or other wrap
diaper and wipes and cream
simple diaper bag
nail trimmer
thermometer
clothing for the season
blankets/burp rags
convertible carseat preferable britax (I really don't care for infant seats much never seem to be as solid in the car. I like to actually touch baby when moving him/her from place to place).
An area for diaper changing--changing table, spot on floor, but area where it's all together

Optional/situational
breast pump (if you plan on WOTH)
bottles
boppy (I used it a lot with ds1, but just ended up with regular pillows for ds2)
stroller
backpack (we've used this tons, but not till about 6 months)
swing, jumper, bouncer, saucer (find out what kid actually likes)
crib--I have one ds1 pretty much didn't use it, ds2 used it a lot
monitor personally found that my house was small enough the the monitor was unnecessary

waste of time
infant travel systems (see above comment on infant car seats)
pack and play
bassinet
fancy bedding
diaper genie
most baby soaps, creams, powder (I was with lots of water and tiny, tiny amounts of soap) and usually use the same Kiss My Face soap that I use on myself

[2dles]

I must be one of the odd ones that loves my diaper genie. We did get it from a friend so we didn't pay for it. I don't rotate after every diaper like it recommends but I can go a week before it is full and we have to empty it. I empty it every Thursday night since the garbage man comes on Friday.

Here is what I couldn't live without for my now 3 month old.

Bouncy Chair
Crib
Swing
Exersaucer
Onsies (prefer the zipper kind and lots of them)
Burp rags (lots of them)
Pacifiers
Swaddler (fleece type with velcro. Theo wouldn't sleep without being swaddled at night)
Stroller/car seat combo
Glider rocker with glider ottoman (I know others will say it isn't worth the cost but I wouldn't part with mine!!! I can even fall asleep in it with him in my arms and we are both comfy.)
Double electric breast pump (if you need to pump I wouldn't ever do it without my double electric pump. 20 mins to do them both and I am good to go.)

Things I don't need:
Bassinet
Pack n Play (I borrow a friends when we need it for traveling)
Changing table (we just put a pad on top of the dresser)
Boppy (got one at a rummage sale and used it once. I just put a pillow under my arm to help support him. I might use it more now that he is big enough and holding his head up for some extra support for tummy time.)

[Alphamom]

You do NOT need: wipe warmer

AHH!i loved mine and used it all the time. Of course with my 2 girls I didnt but with my son and it was wintertime (on a cold Vt mountain top) and he a newborn I found a wipe warmer helped keep him from peeing all over me while I was trying to change his diaper. For some reason a cold wipe would make him pee all over everything before I could get a fresh diaper on him.

[alysmom]

I loved having family and friends that were not having babies exactly the same time as I was because I could borrow and return before they needed it again. Most items for babies only get gently used before they outgrow them. It felt crazy to me for a baby to need so many items and have them cost so much, using them only a few months!