Becoming a new parent is a wonderful and often an overwhelming time. There are so many things to get done before your new bundle of joy enters this world. I'm hoping to help parents distinguish what baby products they need to have and what is a waste of money from my experience and point of view. So here is a list of the essentials and not so essential items new parents will want to purchase for their new baby.
When I first found out that I was pregnant I began looking at all the baby departments in stores. Admiring all the cute little clothes and all the fancy gadgets that I just NEEDED to have. Not to mention all the ways that I was going to decorate the nursery. Let me tell you first and foremost you don't need to have most of those things.
I'll start with the nursery. It's not necessary to paint the nursery. I live in an apartment so painting the nursery was not an option for me. Even though it was something I desperately wanted to do. There are many ways to decorate a nursery inexpensively. One was is to buy wall paper border and put it on the walls. Most of the time you can find this very cheap. It is quick and easy to apply not to mention comes off pretty easily for when your little one outgrows it ,or you want to redo it to his/her tastes. Another way to decorate is keep the walls simple such as a beige or off white color and buy a few inexpensive, but cute pictures to hang on the wall. One of the things that we did was buy the cheap white letters. My husband painted each letter a different color, and we used ribbon to hang the letters on the wall spelling out her name. Another way to decorate the nursery is to hang the comforter that comes with the bedding set on the wall. After all it is a safety hazard to have it in the crib with your little one. It is so cute and makes a nice decoration until your child is old enough to use it.
A crib. I recommend getting a 3 in 1. It's a crib, toddler bed, and can change into a full size headboard. Never buy a used crib because of recalls. I would recommend going cheaper on the crib, but get a good mattress. You are also going to want to have a waterproof mattress pad and 3 or 4 extra sets of sheets. The bed sets with the comforter, bumper pads, and bed skirt are cute but not necessary since the comforter and bumper pads are safety hazards. Even though I did use the bumper pads with my child and she is fine, but its better to be safe than sorry. There is also this other thing that goes under the mattress to make it vibrate like the bouncy seat and it plays music definitely not a necessity after what I went through with my daughter I wish they had it when she was a baby.
I don't recommend getting a changing table because they outgrow them so quickly once they start moving around its not the safest thing to use. What I did was buy a pack n play that came with a changing table. It was great. The pack n play also had a bassinet part to it, so I had that in it and I stored all my diaper changing supplies on the bassinet part and changed the baby on the pack n play. It also had a place to hang diapers on the side of the pack n play and it had a mobile to occupy her while I changed diapers. The picture that goes with this article shows the type of pack n play that I am talking about.
I wouldn't recommend a bassinet either. They grow so quickly that you might get a month or two out of it if your baby even likes it. My daughter slept in it two nights. Then you have the old question where am I going to store it. So once again I recommend getting a pack n play like the one I mentioned above with the bassinet option on it, which is shown in the picture. Multipurpose is the best thing when it comes to babies.
Next are some of my favorite baby gadgets. The number one baby gadget that you must have (they won't let you leave the hospital without it) is a car seat. There are a couple of different types. Never buy a used or hand me down car seat because of accidents and recalls.The one I recommend is the infant car seat. There is a base that stays in the car and you can carry the actual car seat inside with you. This is wonderful because you don't have to worry about waking the baby when you take him/her out of the car. It is also good because this car seat will lock into the cart when you go shopping. This car seat is good until the baby is 20lbs. Even though some parents go on to the next size car seat before that because this car seat can get really heavy.
The items that I got the most use out of were my vibrating bouncy seat and baby swing. My daughter was small for her age, so I was able to use the bouncy seat until she was 9 months old. She still loved it then, but I had to put it away because she knew how to climb into, bounce herself, and turn the vibrator on/off. This seat was a godsend for us because for the first 3 months she wouldn't sleep anyplace else because she hated sleeping on her back. There are many varieties of bouncy seats too. Most have toys hanging above and music to stimulate them. In the picture is the vibrating bouncy that I had for my daughter. The baby swing was also a lifesaver. My daughter used her swing until she was 15 months old. Even though she would sleep in the crib at night during the day the only place I could get her to take a nap was her swing. I recommend getting the full sized swing that way you will get more life out of it. The swing that we have is good until the child is 25lbs or climbs out. My daughter climbs in and out of it so I had to put it away.
A highchair is something that you can wait to get for a few months. I thought I needed the biggest and the best. The one we have folds up the smallest, but it is still quite bulky. I wish I would have just gotten the type that straps to the chair since they don't take up much room plus they are portable for when you go to friends for dinner. The only downside to this type of high chair is you don't want to turn you back on them when they are in there. I'm kind of lazy and I don't use the high chair very often. Many times I feed my daughter on my lap or put something on the coffee table for her to munch on. Really think of how you are before purchasing a high chair.
A Boppy pillow. Almost everyone I know swears by them, but for me I didn't really like it and I didn't use it. I had a c-section and most people say you need it when you have one, but I didn't. I found it easier to just use a pillow. As far as propping the baby on their belly or back while in this my daughter just hated it. So my recommendation is to wait until the baby is born, try it with a pillow and if that doesn't work buy a Boppy then.
An Exersaucer type thing is a walker without wheels. They are much safer than a walker. Not a necessity, but definitely a godsend once the baby is too big for the bouncy seat and can sit up. They are good until the baby can walk. Once again it is only used for a short while. They are very bulky and think about storage before purchasing it. See if you can find someone's you can borrow for a few months.
Activity mats are very nice but not essential. It was nice to have a place to lay my daughter down to play and for her to have toys to grab and kick at. It's a great place to try to do belly time.
Only buy one or two newborn outfits because many times the baby is born too big for them. Buy most of the clothes in 0-3 months. If you get gifts of larger sizes don't take the tags off until you go to put it on the baby because by the time they grow into them they may be the wrong season. If the tags are still on them you can either re-gift them or sell them to a consignment store where you will get more money for them since the tag is still on it. Baby shoes are so cute don't go overboard they grow so quickly. Same goes for diapers only buy one box of the newborn size they outgrow them so quickly.
I don't recommend buying a specially made diaper pail where you have to buy special bags for it. What we did was buy one of those nice stainless steel garbage cans that have the foot thing to lift up the lid and inside it has a plastic garbage can with a handle that can be taken out to be washed or empty diapers. I put a stick-up on top of the lid to help prevent odors and use the plastic grocery bags for the diapers. It works great and I don't have issues with odors. What's even better when they are out of diapers I have a nice garbage can for the kitchen. In the picture next to the pack n play is a picture of the “diaper pail” that we have.
Bath time I recommend getting a baby bath that has the sling type so you can put it in the kitchen sick when they are a newborn and then into the baby tub. I also recommend getting one that has the infant seat type support for once they learn to sit up. It is much easier to wash them if they are sitting in the seat. Don't go overboard on the baby wash. The first bottle of baby wash that I had lasted almost a year. I recommend getting the all in one baby wash that you can use on the body and on the hair. Same goes for the baby lotion a little goes a long way.
Bottles even if you are breastfeeding you will need bottles occasionally. Don't go overboard buying these because each baby has their preference on nipples and such. If you are breastfeeding you are definitely going to want to get a breast pump. If you plan on going back to work get the top of the line you will need it. If it is for an occasional night out just go with one of the electric ones.
Things to stock up on diaper rash cream, baby wipes, bibs, baby wash cloths, burp cloths (use cloth diapers because they can be used for other things later on). Another thing you want to stock up on is batteries almost every baby item needs batteries. I recommend getting the rechargeable ones because from here on out you will need tons of batteries.
I hope this helps you out and I hope I didn't forget anything. I probably did since there are so many new products everyday. Remember this is just my opinion. Be your own judge. Second hand comes in great for certain things like clothing and some toys (need to watch for recalls) and hand me downs are also great for some things. Other things must be new like the car seat. I congratulate you on your new bundle of joy and don't stress out over the small stuff just enjoy every minute of him or her. They grow up so quickly.
The proceeding information about swing set dimensions can provide you with an idea of the features present in modern day swings. There are of course, variations to the elements indicated here.
Children Swing Sizes: Swing King Adventure
The Swing King Adventure swing set measures 270 cm x 245 cm x 280 cm when assembled and weighs 35 kg. It is intended for use by kids 3 to 12 years old.
The material used is wood (premium timber) and the maximum user weight is 50 kg for every child. The Swing King Adventure incorporates a double swing set design. It has polypropylene swing ropes.
The seats of the swing are blow moulded. The swing set can be concreted in the ground. This is only optional though and not necessary. The climbing frames and swings are comprised of sq cut timber. This is intended to keep cracking and splitting to a minimum.
Children Swing Sizes: Amca Concept Triple Swing Plus
The Amca Concept Triple Swing Plus measures 405 cm x 250 cm x 230 cm when assembled. It is made of galvanized steel with a user weight limit of 50 kg. The swing set is designed for use by children 3 to 12 years of age. The swing moves higher from the surface, ideal for older kids and it sports a sandy color.
The swing set comes with Tubloc connectors to ensure the set does not fall apart. The package comes with two blow moulded plastic swing seats and a blow moulded swing.
Children Swing Sizes: Bush Baby Single Swing
The Bush Baby Single Swing is 1.2 m wide, 2.29 m deep and 2.3 m high. The set is constructed out of wood and comes with all the fittings needed to install it. The swing seat is injection moulded and intended for regular use. It has soft feel ropes and has metal anchor pegs.
The swing comes with a set of strapped poles. The box is 0.47 m long, 0.47 m wide and 0.29 m high. The weight is 63 kg. The Bush Baby Single Swing can be used by children 3 to 12 years old. The wood naturally expands and shrinks depending on the temperature. This is normal.
Children Swing Sizes: Plum Colobus Swing
The Plum Colobus Swing dimensions are 3 cm x 2.3 cm x 2.2 cm. The user weight limit is 50 kg while the weight is 81 kg (assembled). The material used is wood.
The swing set comes with the utilities needed for installing the swing (this includes the anchor pegs). There are two seats (blow moulded) fitted with polypropylene swing ropes (10 mm in diameter).
Make sure the user weight is apt for the child that will use it; allowing a child to use one that is too small may cause the set to break or lead to an accident.
Because there are many types of swing sets available, reading reviews about children swing sizes will be helpful. At the very least it gives you an idea of what people use.
Tags: children, home, toys
A child is in itself a wonderful experience and can provide parents with some exquisite make. There is always the need to purchase, equipment and accessories for children and parents can easily find themselves in unfamiliar territory, given the big decisions, which are available in specialty stores. The decision to buy a stroller that is faced by many parents and this guide will try to put a little 'information about the company, the company with the stroller.
Graco Baby Stroller
TheFounded in 1940, and was then specializing in automobile components. Soon she decided to diversify in products for children, and it starts with the production of a baby swing. From there I went to a line of products for children, the AHS has been received from parents in general for development.
The company now has a reputation in the Graco stroller and they even have several branches that do business with the stroller. One of these is the Travel System TypeStroller and a car seat that are attached to the stroller. The only bad thing that this system is that if the baby's weight by 20 pounds, it is almost time for the car seat, even if the child can still be used to replace reached.
Another type of Graco strollers are the lightest. This lightweight stroller combines safety and practicality. Features such as cup and toys are the owners of these strollers. This ishelpful because many parents have to supply children with them.
More Baby Strollers
Another name in the field of Maclaren strollers is the company based in England. These strollers are known for their security features that are available in all their strollers known. And all this without compromising the weight of the stroller. Some of the Maclaren's strollers weigh less than 8 pounds.
Combi is another choice for parents looking for a stroller that is safelightweight and durable. This stroller company can be directly connected to a car seat and also has a template, flash-x, which has a shoulder strap. This is useful for parents who too often take the plains.
Suggestions for the selection of pushchairs
Always after a baby, your lifestyle. If you drive a car, for example, a search that could be connected to a car seat. There are a variety of places toExample of how votes are strollers and this is a good opportunity to know the properties of the wheelchair.
Always seek information from friends and relatives before you buy.
Recommend : Hawaiian Carseat Covers
I have a 14 mo old Cane Corso – which I am aware sometimes has a bad reputation. Our dog is still fairly small (98 lbs), and is GREAT around his dad and I… a sweet, loveable baby. He is also pretty good around ADULT strangers – he barks/growls at first, but within 2 minutes (and a few treats) he will allow the stranger to pet him and then will want to lay in their lap – even if they are coming into his house.
He is NOT good around children. He won’t chase after them, but he will growl and snap at them. On two seperate occasions he nearly bit a child (when I say ‘nearly bit’ i mean lunged and COULD have bitten them, but for some reason decided not to. He as never been around a child that has treated him bad (so it’s not bad memories), and we pull on him, poke him, etc. regularly (as well as playing with his food while eating) because we planned on having children someday and didnt want this to be an issue.
His nervousness/aggression towards children is (obviously) UNACCEPTABLE to us.. ESPICALLY because we are expecting our first child. He HAS successfully been around children before, but we need CONSISTANT good behavior. We have also noticed some separation anxiety. He gets along with other dogs (even small ones), and lived with a cat for a short while too. The dog has not been to any formal training yet, and we are working on finding a trainer in our area (we JUST moved to a different country where english is NOT the primary language, so it will probably be at least another 2 weeks or so until we start working with one).
The dog used to live with his ‘dad’s parents and their Jack Russel/Pitbull mix. He got along fine with them, but they let him get away with EVERYTHING and did not train him. For now, we have done some research on the internet and have begun training on establishing/reinforcing ‘who is the alpha dog’ in the house. He is smart and appears to be coming along fast/well (he just moved here 6 days ago). We have made the following advances:
- Reduced Barking (he used to bark EVERY TIME someone walked by the house – now it’s just when the door bell rings, or someone knocks. He still low growls at times)
- waiting for the humans to go up stairs/through doors first
- reduced (though NOT NEARLY perfect) pulling while on walks
- waits outside the dining area while we eat (he apparently was allowed to sit RIGHT AT the table – the height of his head – before)
- required to sit when we leave for/come in from walks
- He is not/never was food aggressive. And already must lay down and wait (sometimes up to 20 minutes) before eating his food, and eats after us.
We are looking into a prong collar (for the walks). And a Muzzle so we can bring him around children where he can learn they are nice, without a risk of him biting them.
What else can you suggest? Of course – for us – NO DOG is worth a child getting bitten ESPICALLY by a dog so large – it’s very dangerous (lawsuit is also a concern, but SAFETY is our priority).
Description
Product Description
The Curved Graco Lovin'Hug Swing has a seat design that mimics the way Mom cradles Baby in her arms. Holds babies from 5.5 to 30 lbs. Two speed vibration on seat for extra soothing (1 “D” cell battery required). Fabric covered mobile with plush toys rotates with swing movement for visual stimulation. 10 classical melodies and 5 nature sounds soothe and amuse Baby. Soft, removable infant support and premium cushioned seat pad cuddle your baby for more comfort. 5-point harness helps keep Baby securely seated. One-hand, four-position recline lets you easily adjust Babys seating position and view. Six speeds let you choose the pace that suits Babys mood. Easy Entry Tray opens with one hand to easily get Baby in and out.
30-minute timer with three settings automatically shuts off to conserve battery life.
Features
- Four-position recline
- 5-point harness
- Removable infant support
- 10 classical melodies and 5 nature sounds soothe and amuse
- Holds babies from 5.5 to 30 lbs
Additional Info
Item #: 223768
SKU: EEBEB84B
UPC/EAN/ISBN: 047406104024
Manufacturer #: 1752317
Note: Gift wrap is not available for this item.
Batteries: 1 D batteries are required (not included)
Child Weight Min:5 lbs
Child Weight Max: 30 lbs
Product Weight:19.4 pounds
Product Dimensions(in inches)28.5 x 19.0 x 8.0
Shipping
Shipping Info:
- This item can be shipped to the entire United States including Alaska, Hawaii, and all U.S. territories including Puerto Rico
- This item can also be shipped to APO/FPO addresses and to P.O. Boxes in all 50 states
- Due to shipping restrictions, Ship Charges will be separate from other items in your order
- This item will ship by itself
Shipping Methods:
- This item may be shipped via Standard Shipping, Expedited Shipping or Express Shipping
- Please Note: Some addresses are eligible for Standard Shipping only (APO/FPO, P.O. Boxes, U.S. Territories and Puerto Rico)
Packaging:This item may be shipped in the manufacturer's original packaging, which could reveal the contents of the box
Time to make some space and clear out the baby things seeing as Ds3 isnt really in need of these things.
Pickup would be from Sydney (if your close to me I could even drop it off to you.)
I have……..
A Fisher Price Ocean Aquarium baby swing, motorised (batteries), swings forwards and sidewards,actual seat is also reclinable. Has lights and sounds but the motorised fish mobile doesnt spin anymore. Some minor marks. Doesnt affect the actual use of the swing. Comes with attachable tray for when bub is ready for some food fun! Has been a huge help with my bubs, worth every penny. Bought brand new for $300+ 3yrs ago. Legs fold inwards for easy manouvering/storing. $60
Boppy pillow, commonly used for breastfeeding. Bought from WAHM 3yrs ago. Brightly coloured with animal pictures. Rarely used. $10
Tigger Jolly Jumper. Another godsend with immobile babies. Bought 3yrs ago brand new. In fabulous condition, makes tigger sounds and catchphrases, machine washable. Hangs from door frames (the ones with the "shelf" around them) by pincer-grip. $30.
Cradle Swing
January 25th, 2010 at 12:47 am
Wow, that crazy Bug laugh hasn’t changed a bit. And your voice is not annoying!
January 25th, 2010 at 1:17 am
I’m finding it nearly impossible to lift Pixie up high enough to get her legs into the baby swings. It feels like our kiddos sprouted over night.
January 25th, 2010 at 3:59 am
My four year old still likes the baby swings too!
January 25th, 2010 at 7:00 am
Her laugh is really so adorably the same! How lovely that she still enjoys swinging.
January 25th, 2010 at 11:43 am
My 5 year old (getting close to 6) still wants to sit in the baby swings.
January 25th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
You are never too old to attempt riding the baby swings. Everytime I see one I have the need to try and squeeze on (rather than in).
January 25th, 2010 at 1:36 pm
Once in a while something you post about Bug seems to come straight out of our past and future (G is bigger than the baby in your 2006 swing post and smaller than Bug is now) and it makes me feel all bittersweet about the cute baby we’re leaving behind and the incredible daughter she’s growing into.
What an adorable baby, that Bug. Aren’t you glad we have digital cameras in our era as parents? Even my brother didn’t have digital when his first was born.
January 25th, 2010 at 3:13 pm
Baby Bug in the video is the same age as my Tumblebug is now (8 months, right?). It is the middle of winter here, so he hasn’t been in a swing lately, but he laughs like that.
January 25th, 2010 at 4:43 pm
Her laugh is sooo cute. Also, her legs look so long!
January 25th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
How fun that you can actually link back to her first time in the swing. And Bug looks like she is having just as much fun now as she did only three and a bit years ago. I just can’t believe Bug is four! FOUR! 4! Man, time flies when you are having fun.
January 25th, 2010 at 7:58 pm
That was a fun trip down memory lane! Her laugh is contagious!
January 25th, 2010 at 8:11 pm
Hee hee! I went looking back at that post and then noticed the post the very next day. The myspace smackdown. I remember that post.
I don’t remember if I was a lurker back then. I do remember that I was curious about the picture so I emailed you and you sent it to me. I laughed so hard I was crying.
And I know my comment has nothing to do with your post. I just went down memory lane.
January 26th, 2010 at 7:18 am
If you could put Bug’s laugh in a pill you’d have the perfect medicine to treat depression. How joyful! What a dear girl she is.
And did I see Whoorl and Wito in the background???
January 27th, 2010 at 10:11 am
Remember when Bug and I were goofing around on the deck at the cabin…Same laugh! I’m still giggling…So fun.