MMC 006 New Parents Survival Kit Part 2 - Comment line 714-855-2501

Posted by Megan | Podcast | Tuesday 7 October 2008 10:27 pm

 
icon for podpress  MMC 006 New Parents Survival Kit Part 2 - Comment line 714-855-2501 [39:36m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is the second  half of our conversation on a survival kit for new parents. This topic was started by Paul Fischer’s blog which asked What do you really need for a “newborn starter kit”? As always, we talk a lot. So in  we hit the highlights of the comments made on his post, adding our own opinions along the way in the last episode. In the second half (this episode) we talk about the responses we received when we posed the question to our mommy group.

Mindy from Irvine-

fisher price plastic blue and green booster seat (one in car and one for home!:-)
shopping cart cover for the kiddo
ray shade for the stroller
fisher price bounce seat
more than three crib sheets!
at least two crib matress protectors
safety first monitor
two infant car seat bases (didn’t ealize know much we’d use it!)
plastic hooks for the stroller
cling-on “shades” keep sun out of baby’s eyes while in car (easy on easy off or transferable! Bergstroms)
plastic chair protector (two per package-safety first?) -when baby turns to toddler and starts kicking the back of the front seat!
mirror to see baby while driving

Janet from Irvine-

- kimono style infant t-shirts for newborns (so you don’t have to struggle trying to fit the onesie over a floppy head)
- vaseline
- diaper rash cream
- infant tylenol
- stacking cups
- infant bath tub that fits in the kitchen sink
- if space is not an issue, an infant swing
- pack-n-play
- “Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child” book by Marc Weissbluth
- any type of teething toy (can be used for boo-boos later)
- playmat
- infant carrier


Waste for me:
- diaper genie (doesn’t hold as much and easier to discard diapers in the trash directly at our house)
- baby monitor (everything echoes in our house)



Donna From Costa Mesa-

I agree with Mindy’s list and would add Ocean Wonders
Rainforest sound/soother.  It attaches to crib and
plays music (on a timer) and other soothing sounds and
baby won’t mind going to bed!

Erin From Anaheim-

I am a little behind on checking email sorry!
The bottle sterilizer by what ever the “store brand” at babies R us is something I used a ton.  I found registering for the medicines to be a waste as I only ever needed the tylenol and I would have been stuck with all the others.

One thing I couldn’t have lived with out when they were infants was the rear mirror so I could see them when rear facing.

Must Haves Mostly from Valerie. a few added by Megan

*Lap pads (cut into 2 by 2 squares for changing table…didn’t learn about this one till my second child)
*Burp cloths (lots…flannel hold up the best)
*Bibs (for lots of spitting up)
*Generic, not too embellished onesies (for when they are just staying home and don’t need to look super cute - buy in multi-packs)
*Nursing pillow (not jsut for nursing - Boppy, etc.)
*Bottle drying rack (save on paper towels!)
*Bottle brush (I like the Munchkin one that has the nipple brush stored in the handle)
Megan- Dr brown brushes are good for straw cups later
*Hooded towels and wash cloths
*Little trash bags (for stinky diapers or soiled clothes)
*Nail clippers (I prefer the little curved scissors)
Megan-I prefer the straight cuticle nippers
*Swaddlers with velcro (for your mini-Houdini’s)
*Baby powder and Butt paste (in regular and mini versions for the diaper bag)
*Changing pad (either the one that comes in the diaper bag or the disposable ones)
*Diaper Genie (or other fancy diaper pail…not your trash can…those suckers stink!)
Megan-Diaper Champ worked for me but depends on your area and time of year (bugs)
*Baby monitor
*Extra sheets (for both crib and bassinet - you never know when they’ll blow)
*Baby hangers (if I reused the ones from the stores, I got confused by the wrong sizes)
Megan-One hanger with size of all clothes behind it sticking out with Tape
*Binky leashes (I hate looking for dropped binkies)
*Good smelling lotion or (dare I say it) baby cologne (I thought the cologne was lame too…till I had my daughter who spits up all the time and smells like yucky formula)
*High chair with a wipeable surface (I registered for the cute one that matched my son’s bedding…when I went to wash it, it was dry clean only - give me a break!)
*Plastic mat to go under high chair (a must if you have carpet)
*Hooter Hider (or other nursing cover - keep your boobies hidden!)
*2nd base for car seat (if you can afford it for the second car)

A Big Waste

*Bath Robe (I think I only used mine once)
Megan-Cute for pictures but yes, only used larger ones and much later.

*Wipe warmers (my butt got wiped with room temp wipes…my kid’s can too)
*Baby Q-tips (you should NEVER put anything in your baby’s ear)

Special addition - Toddler must haves

*Folding travel potty (never leave home without it)
*Table toppers (your restaurant server will thank you)
*Disposable paper bibs with pocket