I live in rural area, and we don't have an Asian market. However, our supermarket does have an ethnic cooking aisle (mostly targeting Latino shoppers). I have found, for some reason, that the foods in this aisle, particularly the SPICES, are way cheaper. Cinnamon sticks, cumin, or oregano (in particular) are nearly half the price of the big name-brand spices--and the only difference that I've detected is that the name of the spice is written in Spanish on the container instead of English. The quality and taste seems absolutely comparable to me. If I'm nuts for buying these spices instead of the big name brands, someone please let me know. Obviously, if I had a bulk spice buying option I'd use that...
Yes, they are a huge bargain for shopping. Yes, all the claims that you made above are true. However, there is a major caveat: many Asian markets don't have the same standards as other supermarkets. You will have unrefrigerated meat on sale and the store can be filthy. There are lots of other things to consider when going to an
Asian market besides the savings. Personally, my local Asian market is the only place to go for a bunch of stuff that I use to cook (I am Asian, so this comment is NOT intended to be racist) so I go there. But if my local supermarket were to offer the same things, then I would definitely try to go there instead.
Most of your unneccesary items are spot-on, although, I, like many others, disagree about the swing. Not only does it calm, but it is actually developmentally important for your child's brain to experience a good amount of rocking, which a swing can provide without you having to sit in a chair for hours. The rocking develops a child's cerebellum, which is vital for good balance.
As for a changing table, I just put a changing pad on top of a dresser so that I can later use the dresser in a normal capacity.
Our son did fine without a wipe warmer.
Call me "new fashioned", but I never really used our son's baby book. I started a blog for him so that out-of-town relatives could keep up, and that was WAY easier than printing out and gluing pictures. I just updated every week or so, shared stories about him and updates on doctor's appts, and when he was a year I just printed out all of the entries! Instant baby book!
A bottle warmer was probably the other least used item that we had. It never got the bottle hot enough, or it made it too hot. Running warm water over it worked well enough when we needed it, although our son had not problem drinking it cold.
Good luck with your pregnancy! Parenthood is amazing!
only buy new what you cannot find used in good condition. Just about any baby item needed can be found used at a fraction of the cost. For some bigger items you might borrow from someone who is not currently using it or perhaps even borrow for a few days just to test if baby likes it before investing. for example- I thought the bumbo was a brilliant idea. My baby was too fat for it, I repurposed it as a time out chair for my 3 year old but wished I had saved the $35 or bought it used for $10. 2 babies LOVED the swing, 1 baby puked and one baby screamed. All kids are different.
big ticket items I felt worth the money-
Ergo (finally bought it with #4, wish I had it with all of them)
sling
restaraunt style highchair, no tray and doesnt take up 12 square feet. ($35 at Tundra Supply)
miracle blanket (wish I had this with all of them, pricey but makes swaddling a no brainer)
Belly band for use while pregnant and to cover belly while nursing instead of buying tons of nursing shirts.
Everything else? A lot of it is just to give pregnant women something to collect and do while waiting. Even more to give other people pink or blue crap to buy for pregnant women they love.
In regards to the comments of raising backyard chickens - Raising backyard chickens is a great and economical way to suppy your family with fresh, healthy chicken eggs. It doesn't take much space or money to raise chickens successfully, and they can start laying at as young of an age as 4-5 months laying one egg a day. That's a lot of eggs!
Also, coccidiosis is not "common" among backyard flocks. Many backyard chicks are vaccinated against coccidiosis from birth, as its often fatal to chicks.
Backyard chickens are safe and their eggs are healthy. Did you know that a lot of commercial, battery-cage eggs can be a MONTH or even TWO MONTHS old when you get them? Fresh eggs are so much better. I highly encourage everyone to investigate the issue themselves. You will be surprised to find that many people raise chickens easily in their city backyard. It's not hard, and its a great way to save money.
Even the Baby Einstein videos have been shown to delay development in babies. They may be convenient, but for every hour per day babies watched these, they learned 6-8 fewer words compared to babies that never watched them, according to a University of Washington study. They are not just harmless background stimuli. Calling them "Baby Einstein" and "Brainy Baby" was an excellent marketing tactic.
I have twin boys, 10 months old now and the day I got their swings was a real turning point in our early relationship. We didn't discover until ds#1 was 3 months old that he had reflux and so he didn't sleep well at all at first and with two of them I just couldn't sit around holding him all the time. The swing let us all get much needed peace and quiet. Even now, though they're 23 & 19lbs respectively, they still use their swings for naps and crib for bedtime. Truly a lifesaver!
I didn't get a diaper genie but we got a The First Years - Clean Air Diaper Disposal System. It uses just regular 13gal trash bags and really does a good job of controlling smell. I like it quite a bit and it was pretty inexpensive, all told.
What I got was an emergency c-section and a little one that we knew was "different" from day 1 and later found out that "different" meant autistic. We didn't have a changing table with her, but now that I am scheduled for another c-section the first thing I bought was a changing table in an attempt to NOT split my incision open 6 times with this one:)
And with the autism, a lot of the things on this list were absolute essentials...the screaming never would have stopped without them. We tried swaddling her for the first week, and soon found out that she didn't like the sensation AT ALL...the only way to calm her when all other needs were met was the swing. As a 6 year old, she now uses a trampoline to create a rythmic repetative sensation that soothes her. We also could not change a diaper without major fits unless we used warmed wipes. And the Baby Einstein movies were a godsend. While I wouldn't put a baby in front of the movies for an extended time, when you have a kid that doesn't respond much to human interaction (and frequently human interaction upsets her more), a 30 minute stint in front of a Baby Einstein movie means that mommy gets a shower! Autistic kids also frequently have digestive issues...which means explosive diaper problems and projectile vomiting so we went through 5 onesies a day on a good day. I'm making sure I have 20 changes of clothes in newborn sizes this time!
I've never had a "typical" kid so I don't know what the usefulness of these things are for most...but I do know I am stocking up with the assumption that I'm getting another challenge. And if it turns out I only use half the stuff I'll be thankful:) I got almost everything from Craigslist, consignment shops, and friends anyway. I think the biggest mistake a lot of parents make with the "stuff" is buying everything new. I did that with my first one and realized how ridiculous it was. With the second on the way, I have a fully stocked nursery I spent $150 on!!!!
I keep the pistol and the 12 guage by my bed and my cell phone in the bed or on a tether like a purse/messenger bag. My husband died recently. I am glad I already know how to use both my firearms and have a yappy dog to let me know if anyone is outside or comes inside without permission or with permission for that matter!
I completely disagree with the changing table and the diaper genie. I have 3 kids 3 and under, and I own TWO diaper genies and TWO changing tables. Sure, I could change them on the floor, but it's so much easier on your back to do it at waist height. And with the number of inadvertent showers and explosions you'll get, it's nice to have someplace you can sanitize easily. And if you live in a multi-level house, you don't want to be running out to the garage every time you have a poopy diaper. And they really do work to keep the smell out, unlike diaper pails. I would die without my diaper genie.
I do find it interesting that you're writing this post without even having had kids yet. Not really an expert opinion.
I too am a first time mom with a one year old now - and I too thought like you.... but here are my three cents...:
#1 Baby Swing: spend money on this - I didn't buy one at first but I had a vibrating seat that my 0-3 month old loved ($40-45) until he got bored - then I got a little swing that you can take with ($40-45) -- until he got too big -- then I broke down and bought a real swing ($90)- but a low end one....If I would have purchased the back and forth, side to side, vibrating "bells and whistles" swing ($140)-- I would have saved money in the long run and 3 trips to the store in my little car and reading instructions, putting it together...(you get my point)! Your baby (every baby) is going to like and crave motion no matter what...every baby craves a different motion but the all-in-one is sure to satisfy AND as they grow, they change and like different things.
#2 I read those same TV statistics when I was pregnant. However, Baby Einstein DVDs aren't really like tv -- they are the simplest visual stimulation you have ever seen in your life -- I was shocked when I saw one like "what's the big deal?" Your baby, however thinks it's a blockbuster hit. TV is loud with fast movements and complex visuals - even cartoons and Sesame Street is too much for them. But socks and construction paper aren't going to calm your teething or crying baby down like sitting him in front of this baby musical watching toys move across the screen and watching other babies play with toys...and you won't have the energy you think you will to put on a puppet show for Mr./Ms. Cranky. In fact, I NEVER bought the DVD -- but my friend who is graduating with her degree in child development brought one over one night when I was frustrated with my little one and I WISHED I had it from the very beginning.
#3 Diaper Genie is not really that great -- I too have a diaper champ and they are less than $20 at outlets and NO expensive refills -- just any old bag will do -- they cut down on the smell 100% until the baby starts on solids and then I would say 60%. It's worth the $20.
Good Luck!
has a changing pad (it's sort of u shaped so it's soft and has sides on it) that is on top of a dresser my brother built. The dresser holds all the baby gear and eventually will go in the childs room. I think that makes a LOT more sense than buying an actual 'changing table' which won't get used for anything after the child is grown.
My brother also built the co-sleeper they're using which will eventually become the kiddos crib. It's amazing looking and SO handy. Ah to be a woodworker!
I am not sure if i have the ratio correct in the mash i made. i used about 2.5 gallons of water, and about 1 pound of sugar. Does it matter how much yeast i put in? what if i put too much in?
I just had my first child 4 months ago and there are a few things on your list I would say are well worth the money.
#1. The diaper genie. You don't necessarily need to shell out the money for the actual diaper genie, but I would at least get a diaper champ. On several occasions my son has woken up and filled a diaper (or overfilled). Then while I have him on the changing table he proceeds to squirt out a few more gallons of lovely, watery baby poop. At this time, you don't have the time to run the large pile of paper towels, wipes, diapers, and changing pad covers to the outside trash. Your hands will be full trying to keep your child out of the large pile of poop they just produced (did I mention it's very watery). Having some sort of trashcan nearby is a necessity, and one that contains the smell is a plus.
#2. Changing table; see above comment. Babies can produce some crazy messes when you take those diapers off. Even when you think they're done, they're not. Also, if you're really lucky, that watery substance will come exploding out and across the room. At times like this, it's easier to clean a changing table pad than the carpet, bed, etc. We didn't purchase a changing table, just the little contoured pad which sits on top of a dresser.
#3. The swing. I did not register for this because like you, I thought it was an unnecessary expense and I wasn't sure my son would like it. One of my mom's doctors felt that I must have a swing and gave me a very fancy one as a gift. The thing cost around $150, has 6 levels of swing, 3 levels of vibration as well as white noise and classical music playing. It has been a life saver. Best gift we received. Put him right to sleep as a newborn and we still use it occasionally for naps. I wouldn't personally shell out that amount of cash for one, but if someone else wants to buy you one, let them. You will be very grateful at 3am.
Congratulations on your new arrival! Being a mom is the best thing that ever happened to me, exploding poop and all.
I have never owned a cell phone. (age 41) There was a time when they didn't exist and I got by then no problem either. I think of them in the same catagory as things like SUVs, cable TV, Huge HDTVs.
Some people need to be in touch at any given moment. I say if you can't reach me at home leave a message and I'll call you back. Or e-mail me.
I hate when I decide to call someone and they are out on a date or something. I just wanted to say what's up. Why would you answer the phone on a date? That's pretty rude.
I also don't like when I am in the car with someone and they spend the whole time on the phone. Or when I see a group of people, together, but they are all on separate calls with other people. Is it not good enough to talk to the person or people you are currently with. I just feel that cell phones remove the personal contact.
Maybe someday I will have to get one but no need yet.
I would buy a swing off Craigslist. My son didn't like his until he was older, but it was still good to have, and you can sell them for within 15% of what you bought them for 6-8 months later.
Also, the wipe warmer saved us over winter. He would scream when a cold wipe hit him. At 3am, it's worth it to keep them sleeping.
I'd agree with PP that I didn't need a changing table, but a changing pad tethered to a dresser was a lifesaver. But then I have a bad back, so bending over is a painful option.
A Moby or Ergo carrier is a must. They worked even with my bad back.
As PP said expolive poo can blow a hole in plans for just a few outfits. I would buy about 15 little t-shirts (for before the cord falls off) and 15 onesies. You can get plain ones for cheap. I would also take advantage of any hand-me-downs. That saved me tons- all but a few special items of clothing came from a family friend.
And baby shoes are useless. But I would keep an eye out for sales on Robeez and other good shoes for when he does start to need them around 12-18 months.
Great ideas! I've found them very useful...I've also found that loyalty programs have helped me save tons of money on grocery shopping. I just took a survey on this topic (loyalty programs), perhaps you're interested:
Some babies are really helped by swings. It saved my sanity with my second child and it became part of her nap routine.
The three most valuable items for me were:
1. Front wrap carrier (adjustable as baby grows)
2. Back carrier (gets you through museums and stores in half the time - for use when baby is older and curious)
3. Swing
None of these were cheap. Then again, if you save your money by not buying all the other stuff....
By the way, I've noticed a lot of people (and we fell victim with the first) buy or want THREE strollers: an "off-road", an umbrella and a regular one that the car seat can click into. A lot of money can be saved by buying one compact one that is strong and your child can mainly use when they are a bit older. Until then, babies would rather snuggle into the wrap carrier anyhow.
A changing table may be unnecessary for a 20-something parent, but as a parent who was approaching 40 when the baby was born, it was a necessity. Yes, I did occasionally change a diaper on the floor, but having baby and diaper at the proper height saved my back a lot of pain. And to change how many diapers a day hoisting the baby, diaper, wipe and pad up and down off the floor or the couch just wasn't an option ;-)
And having the extra security of the rail around the table was excellent for our more active first born. I can't imagine changing him on top of a dresser. He was so squirmy!
Shopping cart liners/covers are an exasperating waste of time & money! Let's not forget what the immune system is designed to do! And those things are so darned difficult to insert into a shopping cart that you're only likely to attempt it once or twice before throwing in the towel.
Research how your body absorbs this stuff people!
It's not just carbs & calories... it's how the chemicals affect your organs & how those oragsn do their job. Some chemicals stay with you for life and can build up.
HFS is not just like table sugar - you body recognizes & processes it differently.
Corn syrup has been singled out by many health experts as one of the chief reasons of rising obesity, because corn syrup does not turn off appetite. Since the advent of corn syrup, consumption of all sweeteners has soared, as have people's weights. According to a 2004 study reported in the American journal of Clinical Nutrition, the rise of Type-2 diabetes since 1980 has closely paralleled the increased use of sweeteners, particularly corn syrup.
Since the fructose in corn syrup does neither stimulate insulin secretion nor reduce the hunger hormone ghrelin, you will continue to feel hungry while the body converts that fructose into fat. The resulting obesity increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease, metabolic sydrome and such.
""Fructose also increases blood levels of triglycerides, the "bad" low-density lipoprotein form of cholesterol, and the "very bad" very-low-density lipoprotein form of cholesterol. Furthermore, it raises blood pressure, which is associated with overweight and diabetes.""(from "Stop Prediabetes Now: The Ultimate Plan to Lose Weight and Prevent Diabetes" by Jack Challem)
And any person with a corn allergy would definitely disagree with the rest of Ms. Erikson's statement. I've had 3 different medical issues finally completely go away since clearing HFC from my house a year & a half ago. And it's used in the food supply because it's cheap - not because it does X,Y and Z.
There are other sweeteners that do the same thing as HFS -although I question if it's really needed to use a sweetener in everything all the time since regular overuse could cause the pancreas to possibly pitter out and it wouldn't be able to clean your blood as well.
Good luck to you if you choose to only count calories and carbs.
And yes, on the chicken thing - when i used to show chickens in 4H the extension office would send a guy out & test all the chickens for that disease and a couple others. I don't recall anyone ever having a bird test positive so I don't know how it was handled if that occurred.
I had both my babies while I was still in grad school, so our equipment was pretty minimal. In fact, my daughter was born while I was doing fieldwork in Bolivia, and her accoutrements were extremely minimal! (A big woven basket to park her in before she started crawling, a walker to park her in after she started crawling, a big cloth square that served as a multi-position sling, and a frame backpack).
With my son, though, we did have a few of the traditional "baby things," and I'm in agreement with the majority that a swing can be very useful, as is the booster seat w/tray alternative to a space-hogging high chair (and you can take it with your to grandma's/auntie's etc.) We also had a doorway jumper that he really loved and that would keep him entertained for 15 or 20 minutes sometimes, which is an eternity with a 6-month old.
The other thing that I wouldn't do without is one or more types of body carriers. A sling or soft front carrier is great when they are little and need a lot of carrying around and soothing (I'd recommend a sling if you're nursing). Once they're sturdy enough, a backpack carrier is so much easier than a stroller! I just don't understand the appeal of these monster strollers (I guess for the same reason I don't really understand SUVs). Once your toddler is old enough to be a burden in a backpack, they should be toddlin', not strollin'!
I live in rural area, and we don't have an Asian market. However, our supermarket does have an ethnic cooking aisle (mostly targeting Latino shoppers). I have found, for some reason, that the foods in this aisle, particularly the SPICES, are way cheaper. Cinnamon sticks, cumin, or oregano (in particular) are nearly half the price of the big name-brand spices--and the only difference that I've detected is that the name of the spice is written in Spanish on the container instead of English. The quality and taste seems absolutely comparable to me. If I'm nuts for buying these spices instead of the big name brands, someone please let me know. Obviously, if I had a bulk spice buying option I'd use that...
Yes, they are a huge bargain for shopping. Yes, all the claims that you made above are true. However, there is a major caveat: many Asian markets don't have the same standards as other supermarkets. You will have unrefrigerated meat on sale and the store can be filthy. There are lots of other things to consider when going to an
Asian market besides the savings. Personally, my local Asian market is the only place to go for a bunch of stuff that I use to cook (I am Asian, so this comment is NOT intended to be racist) so I go there. But if my local supermarket were to offer the same things, then I would definitely try to go there instead.
Most of your unneccesary items are spot-on, although, I, like many others, disagree about the swing. Not only does it calm, but it is actually developmentally important for your child's brain to experience a good amount of rocking, which a swing can provide without you having to sit in a chair for hours. The rocking develops a child's cerebellum, which is vital for good balance.
As for a changing table, I just put a changing pad on top of a dresser so that I can later use the dresser in a normal capacity.
Our son did fine without a wipe warmer.
Call me "new fashioned", but I never really used our son's baby book. I started a blog for him so that out-of-town relatives could keep up, and that was WAY easier than printing out and gluing pictures. I just updated every week or so, shared stories about him and updates on doctor's appts, and when he was a year I just printed out all of the entries! Instant baby book!
A bottle warmer was probably the other least used item that we had. It never got the bottle hot enough, or it made it too hot. Running warm water over it worked well enough when we needed it, although our son had not problem drinking it cold.
Good luck with your pregnancy! Parenthood is amazing!
You probably already have an appropriate height dresser. Dedicate one of the top drawers to diapers and wipes, and buy a ($15) foam pad to put on top!
only buy new what you cannot find used in good condition. Just about any baby item needed can be found used at a fraction of the cost. For some bigger items you might borrow from someone who is not currently using it or perhaps even borrow for a few days just to test if baby likes it before investing. for example- I thought the bumbo was a brilliant idea. My baby was too fat for it, I repurposed it as a time out chair for my 3 year old but wished I had saved the $35 or bought it used for $10. 2 babies LOVED the swing, 1 baby puked and one baby screamed. All kids are different.
big ticket items I felt worth the money-
Ergo (finally bought it with #4, wish I had it with all of them)
sling
restaraunt style highchair, no tray and doesnt take up 12 square feet. ($35 at Tundra Supply)
miracle blanket (wish I had this with all of them, pricey but makes swaddling a no brainer)
Belly band for use while pregnant and to cover belly while nursing instead of buying tons of nursing shirts.
Everything else? A lot of it is just to give pregnant women something to collect and do while waiting. Even more to give other people pink or blue crap to buy for pregnant women they love.
In regards to the comments of raising backyard chickens - Raising backyard chickens is a great and economical way to suppy your family with fresh, healthy chicken eggs. It doesn't take much space or money to raise chickens successfully, and they can start laying at as young of an age as 4-5 months laying one egg a day. That's a lot of eggs!
Also, coccidiosis is not "common" among backyard flocks. Many backyard chicks are vaccinated against coccidiosis from birth, as its often fatal to chicks.
Backyard chickens are safe and their eggs are healthy. Did you know that a lot of commercial, battery-cage eggs can be a MONTH or even TWO MONTHS old when you get them? Fresh eggs are so much better. I highly encourage everyone to investigate the issue themselves. You will be surprised to find that many people raise chickens easily in their city backyard. It's not hard, and its a great way to save money.
Even the Baby Einstein videos have been shown to delay development in babies. They may be convenient, but for every hour per day babies watched these, they learned 6-8 fewer words compared to babies that never watched them, according to a University of Washington study. They are not just harmless background stimuli. Calling them "Baby Einstein" and "Brainy Baby" was an excellent marketing tactic.
I have twin boys, 10 months old now and the day I got their swings was a real turning point in our early relationship. We didn't discover until ds#1 was 3 months old that he had reflux and so he didn't sleep well at all at first and with two of them I just couldn't sit around holding him all the time. The swing let us all get much needed peace and quiet. Even now, though they're 23 & 19lbs respectively, they still use their swings for naps and crib for bedtime. Truly a lifesaver!
I didn't get a diaper genie but we got a The First Years - Clean Air Diaper Disposal System. It uses just regular 13gal trash bags and really does a good job of controlling smell. I like it quite a bit and it was pretty inexpensive, all told.
What I got was an emergency c-section and a little one that we knew was "different" from day 1 and later found out that "different" meant autistic. We didn't have a changing table with her, but now that I am scheduled for another c-section the first thing I bought was a changing table in an attempt to NOT split my incision open 6 times with this one:)
And with the autism, a lot of the things on this list were absolute essentials...the screaming never would have stopped without them. We tried swaddling her for the first week, and soon found out that she didn't like the sensation AT ALL...the only way to calm her when all other needs were met was the swing. As a 6 year old, she now uses a trampoline to create a rythmic repetative sensation that soothes her. We also could not change a diaper without major fits unless we used warmed wipes. And the Baby Einstein movies were a godsend. While I wouldn't put a baby in front of the movies for an extended time, when you have a kid that doesn't respond much to human interaction (and frequently human interaction upsets her more), a 30 minute stint in front of a Baby Einstein movie means that mommy gets a shower! Autistic kids also frequently have digestive issues...which means explosive diaper problems and projectile vomiting so we went through 5 onesies a day on a good day. I'm making sure I have 20 changes of clothes in newborn sizes this time!
I've never had a "typical" kid so I don't know what the usefulness of these things are for most...but I do know I am stocking up with the assumption that I'm getting another challenge. And if it turns out I only use half the stuff I'll be thankful:) I got almost everything from Craigslist, consignment shops, and friends anyway. I think the biggest mistake a lot of parents make with the "stuff" is buying everything new. I did that with my first one and realized how ridiculous it was. With the second on the way, I have a fully stocked nursery I spent $150 on!!!!
I keep the pistol and the 12 guage by my bed and my cell phone in the bed or on a tether like a purse/messenger bag. My husband died recently. I am glad I already know how to use both my firearms and have a yappy dog to let me know if anyone is outside or comes inside without permission or with permission for that matter!
I completely disagree with the changing table and the diaper genie. I have 3 kids 3 and under, and I own TWO diaper genies and TWO changing tables. Sure, I could change them on the floor, but it's so much easier on your back to do it at waist height. And with the number of inadvertent showers and explosions you'll get, it's nice to have someplace you can sanitize easily. And if you live in a multi-level house, you don't want to be running out to the garage every time you have a poopy diaper. And they really do work to keep the smell out, unlike diaper pails. I would die without my diaper genie.
I do find it interesting that you're writing this post without even having had kids yet. Not really an expert opinion.
I too am a first time mom with a one year old now - and I too thought like you.... but here are my three cents...:
#1 Baby Swing: spend money on this - I didn't buy one at first but I had a vibrating seat that my 0-3 month old loved ($40-45) until he got bored - then I got a little swing that you can take with ($40-45) -- until he got too big -- then I broke down and bought a real swing ($90)- but a low end one....If I would have purchased the back and forth, side to side, vibrating "bells and whistles" swing ($140)-- I would have saved money in the long run and 3 trips to the store in my little car and reading instructions, putting it together...(you get my point)! Your baby (every baby) is going to like and crave motion no matter what...every baby craves a different motion but the all-in-one is sure to satisfy AND as they grow, they change and like different things.
#2 I read those same TV statistics when I was pregnant. However, Baby Einstein DVDs aren't really like tv -- they are the simplest visual stimulation you have ever seen in your life -- I was shocked when I saw one like "what's the big deal?" Your baby, however thinks it's a blockbuster hit. TV is loud with fast movements and complex visuals - even cartoons and Sesame Street is too much for them. But socks and construction paper aren't going to calm your teething or crying baby down like sitting him in front of this baby musical watching toys move across the screen and watching other babies play with toys...and you won't have the energy you think you will to put on a puppet show for Mr./Ms. Cranky. In fact, I NEVER bought the DVD -- but my friend who is graduating with her degree in child development brought one over one night when I was frustrated with my little one and I WISHED I had it from the very beginning.
#3 Diaper Genie is not really that great -- I too have a diaper champ and they are less than $20 at outlets and NO expensive refills -- just any old bag will do -- they cut down on the smell 100% until the baby starts on solids and then I would say 60%. It's worth the $20.
Good Luck!
has a changing pad (it's sort of u shaped so it's soft and has sides on it) that is on top of a dresser my brother built. The dresser holds all the baby gear and eventually will go in the childs room. I think that makes a LOT more sense than buying an actual 'changing table' which won't get used for anything after the child is grown.
My brother also built the co-sleeper they're using which will eventually become the kiddos crib. It's amazing looking and SO handy. Ah to be a woodworker!
I am not sure if i have the ratio correct in the mash i made. i used about 2.5 gallons of water, and about 1 pound of sugar. Does it matter how much yeast i put in? what if i put too much in?
I just had my first child 4 months ago and there are a few things on your list I would say are well worth the money.
#1. The diaper genie. You don't necessarily need to shell out the money for the actual diaper genie, but I would at least get a diaper champ. On several occasions my son has woken up and filled a diaper (or overfilled). Then while I have him on the changing table he proceeds to squirt out a few more gallons of lovely, watery baby poop. At this time, you don't have the time to run the large pile of paper towels, wipes, diapers, and changing pad covers to the outside trash. Your hands will be full trying to keep your child out of the large pile of poop they just produced (did I mention it's very watery). Having some sort of trashcan nearby is a necessity, and one that contains the smell is a plus.
#2. Changing table; see above comment. Babies can produce some crazy messes when you take those diapers off. Even when you think they're done, they're not. Also, if you're really lucky, that watery substance will come exploding out and across the room. At times like this, it's easier to clean a changing table pad than the carpet, bed, etc. We didn't purchase a changing table, just the little contoured pad which sits on top of a dresser.
#3. The swing. I did not register for this because like you, I thought it was an unnecessary expense and I wasn't sure my son would like it. One of my mom's doctors felt that I must have a swing and gave me a very fancy one as a gift. The thing cost around $150, has 6 levels of swing, 3 levels of vibration as well as white noise and classical music playing. It has been a life saver. Best gift we received. Put him right to sleep as a newborn and we still use it occasionally for naps. I wouldn't personally shell out that amount of cash for one, but if someone else wants to buy you one, let them. You will be very grateful at 3am.
Congratulations on your new arrival! Being a mom is the best thing that ever happened to me, exploding poop and all.
I have never owned a cell phone. (age 41) There was a time when they didn't exist and I got by then no problem either. I think of them in the same catagory as things like SUVs, cable TV, Huge HDTVs.
Some people need to be in touch at any given moment. I say if you can't reach me at home leave a message and I'll call you back. Or e-mail me.
I hate when I decide to call someone and they are out on a date or something. I just wanted to say what's up. Why would you answer the phone on a date? That's pretty rude.
I also don't like when I am in the car with someone and they spend the whole time on the phone. Or when I see a group of people, together, but they are all on separate calls with other people. Is it not good enough to talk to the person or people you are currently with. I just feel that cell phones remove the personal contact.
Maybe someday I will have to get one but no need yet.
I would buy a swing off Craigslist. My son didn't like his until he was older, but it was still good to have, and you can sell them for within 15% of what you bought them for 6-8 months later.
Also, the wipe warmer saved us over winter. He would scream when a cold wipe hit him. At 3am, it's worth it to keep them sleeping.
I'd agree with PP that I didn't need a changing table, but a changing pad tethered to a dresser was a lifesaver. But then I have a bad back, so bending over is a painful option.
A Moby or Ergo carrier is a must. They worked even with my bad back.
As PP said expolive poo can blow a hole in plans for just a few outfits. I would buy about 15 little t-shirts (for before the cord falls off) and 15 onesies. You can get plain ones for cheap. I would also take advantage of any hand-me-downs. That saved me tons- all but a few special items of clothing came from a family friend.
And baby shoes are useless. But I would keep an eye out for sales on Robeez and other good shoes for when he does start to need them around 12-18 months.
Great ideas! I've found them very useful...I've also found that loyalty programs have helped me save tons of money on grocery shopping. I just took a survey on this topic (loyalty programs), perhaps you're interested:
http://www.loyaltyleaders.org/consumer-survey.php
MY JOBS SUCKS and you should go to this blog and tell people why your job sucks. http://myjobsucksbigtime.blogspot.com/
Some babies are really helped by swings. It saved my sanity with my second child and it became part of her nap routine.
The three most valuable items for me were:
1. Front wrap carrier (adjustable as baby grows)
2. Back carrier (gets you through museums and stores in half the time - for use when baby is older and curious)
3. Swing
None of these were cheap. Then again, if you save your money by not buying all the other stuff....
By the way, I've noticed a lot of people (and we fell victim with the first) buy or want THREE strollers: an "off-road", an umbrella and a regular one that the car seat can click into. A lot of money can be saved by buying one compact one that is strong and your child can mainly use when they are a bit older. Until then, babies would rather snuggle into the wrap carrier anyhow.
A changing table may be unnecessary for a 20-something parent, but as a parent who was approaching 40 when the baby was born, it was a necessity. Yes, I did occasionally change a diaper on the floor, but having baby and diaper at the proper height saved my back a lot of pain. And to change how many diapers a day hoisting the baby, diaper, wipe and pad up and down off the floor or the couch just wasn't an option ;-)
And having the extra security of the rail around the table was excellent for our more active first born. I can't imagine changing him on top of a dresser. He was so squirmy!
Shopping cart liners/covers are an exasperating waste of time & money! Let's not forget what the immune system is designed to do! And those things are so darned difficult to insert into a shopping cart that you're only likely to attempt it once or twice before throwing in the towel.
Research how your body absorbs this stuff people!
It's not just carbs & calories... it's how the chemicals affect your organs & how those oragsn do their job. Some chemicals stay with you for life and can build up.
HFS is not just like table sugar - you body recognizes & processes it differently.
Corn syrup has been singled out by many health experts as one of the chief reasons of rising obesity, because corn syrup does not turn off appetite. Since the advent of corn syrup, consumption of all sweeteners has soared, as have people's weights. According to a 2004 study reported in the American journal of Clinical Nutrition, the rise of Type-2 diabetes since 1980 has closely paralleled the increased use of sweeteners, particularly corn syrup.
Since the fructose in corn syrup does neither stimulate insulin secretion nor reduce the hunger hormone ghrelin, you will continue to feel hungry while the body converts that fructose into fat. The resulting obesity increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease, metabolic sydrome and such.
""Fructose also increases blood levels of triglycerides, the "bad" low-density lipoprotein form of cholesterol, and the "very bad" very-low-density lipoprotein form of cholesterol. Furthermore, it raises blood pressure, which is associated with overweight and diabetes.""(from "Stop Prediabetes Now: The Ultimate Plan to Lose Weight and Prevent Diabetes" by Jack Challem)
And any person with a corn allergy would definitely disagree with the rest of Ms. Erikson's statement. I've had 3 different medical issues finally completely go away since clearing HFC from my house a year & a half ago. And it's used in the food supply because it's cheap - not because it does X,Y and Z.
There are other sweeteners that do the same thing as HFS -although I question if it's really needed to use a sweetener in everything all the time since regular overuse could cause the pancreas to possibly pitter out and it wouldn't be able to clean your blood as well.
Good luck to you if you choose to only count calories and carbs.
And yes, on the chicken thing - when i used to show chickens in 4H the extension office would send a guy out & test all the chickens for that disease and a couple others. I don't recall anyone ever having a bird test positive so I don't know how it was handled if that occurred.
I agree that the baby swing is not a waste for everyone. I loved the swing for my children and grandchildren.
I had both my babies while I was still in grad school, so our equipment was pretty minimal. In fact, my daughter was born while I was doing fieldwork in Bolivia, and her accoutrements were extremely minimal! (A big woven basket to park her in before she started crawling, a walker to park her in after she started crawling, a big cloth square that served as a multi-position sling, and a frame backpack).
With my son, though, we did have a few of the traditional "baby things," and I'm in agreement with the majority that a swing can be very useful, as is the booster seat w/tray alternative to a space-hogging high chair (and you can take it with your to grandma's/auntie's etc.) We also had a doorway jumper that he really loved and that would keep him entertained for 15 or 20 minutes sometimes, which is an eternity with a 6-month old.
The other thing that I wouldn't do without is one or more types of body carriers. A sling or soft front carrier is great when they are little and need a lot of carrying around and soothing (I'd recommend a sling if you're nursing). Once they're sturdy enough, a backpack carrier is so much easier than a stroller! I just don't understand the appeal of these monster strollers (I guess for the same reason I don't really understand SUVs). Once your toddler is old enough to be a burden in a backpack, they should be toddlin', not strollin'!