{31 Days} Preparing for Baby # 3 – Baby Gear
Welcome to my {31 Days} series this year! We will soon be welcoming baby # 3 and I realized that there is a lot I need to do before that happens! You can find all the posts in this series here. Thank you for following along with me.
Baby gear – it is a huge industry. You can have everything from diaper pails and
wipe warmers to pack and plays, baby gyms, bassinets and cribs. There are so many options these days! When you have that first baby, you think you
need all of it. We certainly did! And we purchased it all as well. Some people will definitely disagree with me
on this point, but after my first baby, I realized that most of that gear is
unnecessary.
wipe warmers to pack and plays, baby gyms, bassinets and cribs. There are so many options these days! When you have that first baby, you think you
need all of it. We certainly did! And we purchased it all as well. Some people will definitely disagree with me
on this point, but after my first baby, I realized that most of that gear is
unnecessary.
My kids are older now, so we have gotten rid of most
everything that we once had. Some of it
is with my sister-in-law, and I am sure when we need it, we will be able to get
it back. So we are starting fresh with
the gear this time around.
everything that we once had. Some of it
is with my sister-in-law, and I am sure when we need it, we will be able to get
it back. So we are starting fresh with
the gear this time around.
The big thing that seems to be missing from our home, that
most people find odd, is the crib.
most people find odd, is the crib.
For our first two babies, we had a crib. A beautiful crib that I picked out and loved,
and one that we used maybe a handful of times.
I didn’t realize that we would co-sleep.
It wasn’t something that I had planned on, but it is what happened with
our first little one, after she had been in a bassinet for the first couple of
months. Then when our second came along,
I immediately put him in the bed with me.
It works for us.
and one that we used maybe a handful of times.
I didn’t realize that we would co-sleep.
It wasn’t something that I had planned on, but it is what happened with
our first little one, after she had been in a bassinet for the first couple of
months. Then when our second came along,
I immediately put him in the bed with me.
It works for us.
With our newest little one, we do have a bassinet, but I
fully expect that she will be in the bed with us sooner rather than later. Part of it is due to me nursing. I have found that getting up out of bed and
sitting in a chair to nurse in the middle of the night is just not for me. I completely fess up to needing my sleep, and
if I can get a little shut eye while nursing, I will do it. Those first weeks are rough guys! Is that to say that we will keep her in the
bed with us? I have no idea. I like to take each baby as they come, and
see what works best. Although, with our
first two co-sleeping has definitely worked the best.
fully expect that she will be in the bed with us sooner rather than later. Part of it is due to me nursing. I have found that getting up out of bed and
sitting in a chair to nurse in the middle of the night is just not for me. I completely fess up to needing my sleep, and
if I can get a little shut eye while nursing, I will do it. Those first weeks are rough guys! Is that to say that we will keep her in the
bed with us? I have no idea. I like to take each baby as they come, and
see what works best. Although, with our
first two co-sleeping has definitely worked the best.
We have a pack and play that we kept from our oldest, and I
love it. It is one that has a
basinet/changing table attached to it (although I think they all come that way
now). Plus, it will keep little hands
mostly away from her when she needs to nap during the day.
love it. It is one that has a
basinet/changing table attached to it (although I think they all come that way
now). Plus, it will keep little hands
mostly away from her when she needs to nap during the day.
The next item on my must need list is the Moby wrap, or an
Ergo – or both. I love my Moby. When I was pregnant with my oldest, I was
just learning about baby wearing and other natural parenting philosophies. It sounded great to me! And it was.
I wore Emma in that Moby for her first year, and then we switched to the
Ergo once she was able to hold onto my back and I could get her in it without
assistance.
Ergo – or both. I love my Moby. When I was pregnant with my oldest, I was
just learning about baby wearing and other natural parenting philosophies. It sounded great to me! And it was.
I wore Emma in that Moby for her first year, and then we switched to the
Ergo once she was able to hold onto my back and I could get her in it without
assistance.
Wearing my baby allowed me to get things done that I
certainly wouldn’t have if I was constantly putting her down. It allowed her to nap and me to nurse when
needed. And overall, I felt much better
about taking her out to stores if I could keep her really close to me. For some reason when I go out to run errands,
strangers have this innate need to come and touch my baby. Now, I did still have a few little old ladies
come up to me and lift the wrap up to see the baby (I don’t get it for the life
of me!), but it was rare.
certainly wouldn’t have if I was constantly putting her down. It allowed her to nap and me to nurse when
needed. And overall, I felt much better
about taking her out to stores if I could keep her really close to me. For some reason when I go out to run errands,
strangers have this innate need to come and touch my baby. Now, I did still have a few little old ladies
come up to me and lift the wrap up to see the baby (I don’t get it for the life
of me!), but it was rare.
My other absolute must have for baby gear is an
Exersaucer. Both of my kids liked to
only be upright…ever. It might be
because I had them in the Moby from birth, but if you tried to do tummy time
with my kiddos they would scream and scream and scream, and then learn to roll
over early. So Exersaucer it was! Sometimes you need to put the baby down,
obviously, and this was a perfect place, where I would know where the baby was,
they couldn’t get hurt or get into things they shouldn’t, and they were able to
get some energy out. Granted, we took
all the toys off the thing, so that it wouldn’t drive us crazy, but the kids
loved it just the same.
Exersaucer. Both of my kids liked to
only be upright…ever. It might be
because I had them in the Moby from birth, but if you tried to do tummy time
with my kiddos they would scream and scream and scream, and then learn to roll
over early. So Exersaucer it was! Sometimes you need to put the baby down,
obviously, and this was a perfect place, where I would know where the baby was,
they couldn’t get hurt or get into things they shouldn’t, and they were able to
get some energy out. Granted, we took
all the toys off the thing, so that it wouldn’t drive us crazy, but the kids
loved it just the same.
These are my essentials when it comes to a baby. The only other thing that I can think of is a
baby monitor, which is obviously important.
But, everything else is kind of extra in my eyes. Now, if you have all the baby gear you could
ever want, great, I’m glad it works for you!
For my family, we are much more minimalist when it comes to the baby
gear.
baby monitor, which is obviously important.
But, everything else is kind of extra in my eyes. Now, if you have all the baby gear you could
ever want, great, I’m glad it works for you!
For my family, we are much more minimalist when it comes to the baby
gear.
What were your essentials
when you had your first baby? Have your
ideas changed?
when you had your first baby? Have your
ideas changed?
Love the idea of the minimalist Mama!!! I loved our Bjorn and the bouncy seat!
I love your concept! I have 2 kids, and I recently told my husband if we ever have a third, I plan to use less stuff (furniture, gear, and especially clothes) than for the first two together. we got so many clothes as gifts it is insane. i keep only the handmades, and a few selected much loved items. my essentials are the german equivalent to the Ergo, i used it for my second already when she was really small, as she was born in summer and the moby was way too warm for me. another essential is a co-sleeping crib. both our kids still frequent our bed and i loved having a safe place for my baby with my toddler son sharing our bed as well.
all the best for the rest of your pregnancy!