Oh Baby! What’s a first time mama to do? You are worried about the delivery, you are worried about sleep or lack thereof, and of course you are worried about what to buy your precious one before he or she comes into your life.
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Take a tour of a baby superstore and your gestational heartburn will no doubt kick up a notch. With a dizzying array of products to choose from and hundreds (maybe thousands) of dollars to be spent, how do you know what you will really need when that baby comes kicking and screaming into this world?
I relied on my friend Donnabeth 4 years ago when David was about to be born. She told me what was a must and what was a waste. If you have dear friends who will tour the stores with you—go for it. If you want some expert advice—read on.
I hit Babies R Us with Sandra Gordon, editor of Consumer Reports Guide to Best Baby Products. We first stopped at all the pretty stuff. The gorgeous matching bedding, bumpers and pillows. Sandra said “forget it.” The motto at Consumer Reports is “Bare is best.” She says to reduce the chance of suffocation keep the crib clean. That means no blankets. Instead use a self-contained sleep sack, and do not use bumpers. She also recommends buying the firmest mattress you can find. What’s too hard for us is not for your baby. The softer the mattress, the more chance of suffocation. A good mattress can run you close to $200. But Sandra will save you money elsewhere. She says cradles and bassinets are a waste. Your baby can sleep in the crib from the get-go. As for privacy—forget it. Consumer Reports recommends your bundle of joy share your room for the first 6 months.
What about feeding time? If you are breastfeeding you can rent an electric pump from your hospital to see if you should make the ultimate investment. Sandra says go for the high powered one and get the job done fast. Consumer Reports likes the Medela Pump in Style Advanced or Original. And don’t be tempted to borrow or buy a used one because bacteria and viruses can lodge in the internal frame.
As for bottles, there’s been some concern about using plastic to feed your baby. Some wonder if the chemicals from the plastic will leach into the bottle, and they advocate using glass. Consumer Reports is planning on testing plastics soon but believes there is no reason for alarm. Plastics have been used for 25 years without a problem. Brown advises trying out different brands to see which shape or nipple your baby likes.
When it comes to warming the bottle, run it under hot water. Do not use the microwave.
When it comes to strollers, you don’t need the Cadillac. You need a basic stroller that has an infant car seat that snaps in. The expensive ones may look trendier but the trick is to find one with good wheel suspension. Also one that is ergodynamic for carrying the infant. Sandra likes the Chicco Cortina which retails for about $280.
I asked her to tell me what she thought was a waste of money. Sandra says buy either a bouncy seat or a swing, not both. I say borrow one to see if your baby likes it. Babies have strong opinions on swings, love them or hate them. She also says wipe warmers are a waste. If you walk across the room the wipe gets cold again. She says to buy only one box of newborn diapers. Your baby will grow faster than you think. And when it comes to registering for your baby—be conservative. You can always go out and buy extra onesies or blankets.
There’s all kinds of advice and recommendation in Consumer Reports Guide—so check it out.
If this all sounds confusing—just think: it will be easier the second time around!