Wow. So this is a little overwhelming. Figuring out what this baby needs, and then choosing among all the options of products. And there is already so much stuff in the world (and not to mention our apartment...) Good to know that so many of you are already experts on baby basics (having raised us, for example) Here is the list/blog we put together over the past months for ourselves, trying to figure out this ourselves, updated for baby shower purposes.
I guess people can comment to the post, keeping updated on what is bought and found on the list. And we will promise not to read the comments..
Hand me downs and second hand baby stuff (from for example craigslist) are great. Things that can't easily be cleaned before use (like a crib mattress or car seat, for the fear of bedbugs...) or consumables, like diapers and feeding supplies, we need new.
IKEA has well designed reasonable priced furniture and baby gear that can easily be sold or passed on when baby grows out of them.
Anything handmade (by you or from places like etsy ) will be treasured dearly..
Your time & love is however the best gift. I hope you all will be present in this little guy's life in years to come.
OK, so here is more of a list:
CLOTHES
Baby will be born in boiling summer, and great Granma Alice has already sent a huge pack with adorable basic newborn clothes, so I think he will have plenty changes for his first months. He is going to grow so fast though and need more for the cold season, so clothes from 4 months and onwards are very much appreciated. Love natural fibers like cotton and wool in all colors (though baby clothes seems to come in mainly blue or pink, funny world..).
DIAPERS!! or a diaper subscription (and a robot that comes and changes them when they get to smelly, please..)
DIAPER PAIL.. (hmmm, RD-D2 from Star Wars actually seems to be good for this, and the above..Does he have any unemployed cousins?)
PLASTIC BATHTUB
+hooded towel, baby soaps, creams, etc.. (not Johnsons & Johnsons or heavily fragrant products. Prefer organic stuff not tested on animals, like body shop, Weleda, Burt Baby bee's..)
CHANGING TABLE
and BASKETS (13"x13"x13") for clothing storage, on changing table and in the expedit book case we already have that will become storage in nursery for clothes, toys and books. Like these, these or these (yeah, all from IKEA again)
BED (simple design, no moving parts, the IKEA ones seem great. Ask to make sure that they are compliant with the new Consumer Product Safety Commission rules--basically no drop side cribs. We want to be able to pass it on in the future.) We are borrowing the Cozzens family crib. Thank you guys!
still need mattress, bumper, linens, mattress protector
Sleep sack, cotton or wool. Small for summer fall and a larger/ warmer one for when winter comes. Like this one that fits 0 to 2 years
HIGH CHAIR - pref. wood. Marte spent her first 10 years around the dinner table in a Stokke Tripp Trapp chair, and think they are the best invention ever, they adjust with the childs age. My parents now use my old chair for their grandchildren. For infants you need extra parts. They are however rather pricy, but people sell them used on craigslist.
PLAYPEN (or one of these travel beds w changing table, like the pack and play)
BOOKS & MUSIC
Yes! Baby boy will definitely be indoctrinated by its family to be a big reader from day one. Good old classics and new books with quality illustrations will be read over and over again..
This also goes for children’s music and audio books, or your personal mixed compile. We have a record player if you happen to come across some old children’s records
Also what would be great to have is one of these baby books to put images and little milestones in baby’s life in
BOUNCER SEAT?
DIAPER BAG
NURSING PILLOW
and other nursing/ feeding stuff like bottles, breast pump (mooo), milk storage bags etc
BABY SEAT AND HELMET FOR BIKING (for next spring when he is big enough)
And yes.. ICE CREAM MACHINE (eh.. To cool down overheated parents)
BABYSITTING - How about a gift card with a 4-hour outing with baby so the parents can take a nap or catch up on work. Something like that would be amazing..
BORROWING A CAR or a gift card for car rental for a day in June or July to get the rest of the stuff we need and get giant IVAR shelves and baskets and boxes so we can finally get organized before baby comes would also be a great treat.
We do already have a stroller, car seat and a Baby Bjorn (carrier) and a night monitor.
Here is our amazon registry, where we have been collecting the stuff we have been looking at over the past months while trying to figure out what a baby needs. Its not as if we crave for those exact items, but they are on the wish list and get good reviews (or we are just crazy and nostalgic about it ourselves, like Sesame Street...)
