We have one last baby related shopping spree to go on to finish buying all the 'necessities' we need to bring Lily Ann home. I have a feeling that my husband defines 'necessities' differently than I do! There are two items on the list that I am having trouble with. Can you experienced mommas help me out?
The Baby Swing
I argue that this is a necessity to have when she comes home. I know that the rocking can soothe some babies who otherwise could be quite fussy. What if Lily Ann is fussy and the only thing that soothes her is the gentle rocking of a swing? I want to have this on hand just for that possibility. Lucas argues that she may not like the swing and it would be better to maybe test her out on our friend's swing before investing $150 in a big plastic contraption to set in our family room. But it might be a few weeks before we travel to their house to test it out. That is a few weeks that it could be needed. But we won't know if we don't have one. I want to go ahead and get it with our registry completion coupon (10% off ~ whenever BabiesRUs gets around to sending us the coupon). Lucas would rather spend the extra $15 later. Sigh. Such a life altering decision, I know.Landon, our friend's baby, didn't like his swing for the first month or so but eventually grew to like it. Did your baby use his/her swing from Day 1 or did it take time for them to actually enjoy it? Do we need this when we come home from the hospital or should I wait a month or so? Or does she need it at all?
The Wipes Warmer
Our same non-swing loving baby friend loves his wipes warmer. I mean - who wouldn't? This is a fairly simple purchase that I would buy without thought except for one little problem: where do I put the thing? There is no extra room on the changing table; I don't have a table near the changing table; I really don't want to hang shelves on the wall to display ugly diaper paraphernalia. I am using the top drawer of the dresser to house all of her diapering needs. I thought about drilling a hole in the back of the dresser and setting the warmer in the drawer, but mom mentioned this might be a fire hazard I wouldn't want in the nursery.So, do I really need the wipes warmer? Will it make the diaper changing process go smoother? Because I'm all for that. I want little Lily to be as happy as she can be. If I don't wipe her butt with a warm wipe am I a bad mother? (Okay, I know the answer to that but humor me.)
What else did you consider a 'necessity' in the first few days at home with your baby? I want to be fully prepared but feel I am falling somewhere short of that goal.
15 comments:
On the swing, that's a hard call - Lucas is right - some babies don't like them. Ali was never a huge fan, and it DOES take up a lot of room.
But then, other babies take all their naps in them and it's a miracle swing. I just don't know.
Wipes Warmer - ABSOLUTELY NOT.
My biggest reason is: If you get her used to having a warm-wiped butt at home, guess what's going to happen when you're out and about and you put an icy cold wipe on her butt? uh huh...
They don't mind cold wipes so why spoil them only to make it worse for you when you don't have a warm wipe around?
I'm not a mother, but here's my vote... Baby swing, yes! I've never seen a baby not like the swing. Butt wipe warmer, no. We survived without warm tushy wipers, right? I don't know about you, but I don't go to therapy because my parents neglected to wipe my dairyaire with warm wipes. Of course, I don't think that contraption was around 30 years ago. (geez! 30, I hate to think that I'm going to be 30 this year!)
Best of luck winning the swing debate!
I found your blog through Nin @ Peachyhollow and have been following it for a few weeks. I also can't wait until Lily Ann arrives! I have two children myself and can tell you that the baby swing was very helpful in the early weeks. Both of my children used one. The wipes warmer I used with both of my children also. It was okay. It will turn the wipes kind of brown on the bottom of the stack. They would get kind of dry and yucky. Possibly the newer ones have better temperature control. One thing I used (both times) that I LOVED was the vibrating bouncy seat. My daughter was very fussy and it soothed her. We went through many batteries. Good Luck!
Diaper Warmer...no. I was given one as a hand me down and used it but, I too, had the problem of where do I put it. I quickly stopped using it as it was more of a hassle.
As for the swing, that's a toughy. I didn't register for one but I ended up getting one as a hand me down and I rarely used it. It took up too much space and neither of my children really took to it. They didn't mind it, but they are both fine in their bouncy seat.
As for last minute needs do you have a boppy? I love this...it helps with nursing and as another place to set your little one.
I would say that the baby swing is a necessity. If you don't want one that big, they do have smaller ones that cost less. That's what we used and it was literally a lifesaver. Jackson didn't like it at first, and I know that some babies don't, but about 3 weeks in he really started to like it and for about 2 months it was the only way to get him to sleep! I would definitely get one.
The wipes warmer- well, it's not really a necessity. It is nice to have at first, when babies usually hate getting diaper changes anyway, it makes it a little easier. But after the first month we never used it again. If you do get one, they have these hanging accessory organizers that hang off the side of the changing table that have a specific spot for the wipes warmer. That's what we used.
I hope that helps!
wipe warmers were not around when I was having babies... so I have no opinions on those. However - here is *my* take on the swing,take it or leave it.
1) -get one of those head-hugger thingys (like you put in a car seat for a newborn) so when she IS in the swing, she isn't bobbing around, and she will be comfy.
2) -my oldest did't necessarily love t "swing" but he loved to be UP so he could SEE. Anytime had to run the vaccum or do dishes o what hve you he would watch me with such intent (starting around 6 weeks). I could talk to him and wave and make him laugh and he loved it. He HATED his play pen because he could not see. Also, during his "swing time" i would put in the baby einstein DVDs or the baby sign language stuff. He loved that. And it gave me the freedom to get a few quick things done here and there.
3) My 2nd and 3rd babies LOVED to swing. NOt only did they like it for the reason my first did, but they also loved the soothing rocking. Here's another thing. With my second baby, he would cry when I sat in a rocking chair to rock him. He would only stop crying when I stood and sort of "manually" swung him. Finally, I thought this is ridiculous - my arms are killing me and i cannot get a thing done! so i got a swing and he loved it. my daughter was cholicky and loved the swing from day one. Often times I would play soft music, recline the swing a bit and do a gentle swing cycle. It SAVED MY SANITY! Honesly, i have never known a baby to NOT like her swing, but apparently there are.
4) - My vote - GET THE SWING!!! :)
sorry for the typos... apparently i type too fast for blogger today and it is not picking up some of my letters! :(
I didn't have a swing for Megan so I was her swing....with Tori we had a swing but she only liked it for about 2 weeks....then would SCREAM everytime I put her in it!!
That's a tough decision.
20 something years ago we didn't have a wipe warmer....room temperature wipes didn't kill my girls...lol.
I'm a frugal person so I would say don't waste your money on the latter one & try out a friends swing before you invest...just in case!
No on the wipes warmer.
The swing hmmm. My boys just did not like a swing at all. It took up lots of room and it is a purchase I wish I had never made. Plus they really are not in a swing very long.
The best ever purchase though was a Bumbo and bjorn! Those are my top baby items.
Good luck!
Thanks for all the advice, everyone! I think I am voting 'yes' on the swing and 'no' on the wipes warmer.
As for your other suggestions, I do have a bouncer, a Boppy, a Bumbo seat, and a carrier! I've still got to buy the mack-daddy of all slings: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3500158&CAWELAID=332641020
All my kiddos were different when it came to swings. My last one did not care for it at all! Maybe come to a compromise and invest in a more affordable one. There are great ones at Target for around $45.
The wipe warmer gets a big no-no from me for the reason Rachel above said. I don't think a baby ever suffered post-traumatic wipe syndrome from a cold one on their hiney!! LOL
a defninite no on the wipes warmer. Never had one. Never used one. But there's so many other "must haves" for babies that I never saw the need for something like it. My brother always feels bad using cold wipes on his kids so he holds them in his hand for a minute before he wipes his kids. But my kids never seemed to care.
As far as the swing goes. We borrowed a big one with a pretty big swing radius when Maggie was a baby and she hated the thing. When I had the twins I got a little fisher price fold and go swing (it's really low to the ground and folds up so you could put it in your car trunk if you wanted to (but I don't know where I'd take it....). Anyway, the swing was awesome. I think it was like 45 dollars or something. So maybe you could go for a smaller simpler swing as a compromise. I loved that swing and I wish I'd had 2 so both my twins could have used it at the same time.
A vibrating bouncer is a must though. there has never been a baby ever that hasn't like them.
oh hey, it's me, formerly of Peachy Hollow, now of a new blog (I decided to start afresh).
I actually like my wipes warmer, I got the prince lionheart one and they also make a changing table caddy that hooks onto the side to hold stuff and the diaper warmer sits on that. Having said that though, I now use cloth diapers and cloth wipes so don't use the warmer any more.
as for the swing, we didn't get one to begin with as I wanted Oliver to be able to soothe himself to sleep, but then we ended up getting one as he would scream whenever we sat down to a meal. I realised I was being selfish too, putting my desires to want him not to get used to being swung ahead of his enjoyment of being swung. however I *NEVER* let him sleep in it. as soon as he nods off, I move him onto a flat surface. babies aren't supposed to sleep in a sitting position, they're better off flat as if they're scrunched up it can lead to oxygen deprivation. same for carseats, he's only in his carseat if he's in the car, *NEVER* let a baby sleep in a carseat, it's so bad for them. they even come with a warning saying you must take them out of it every 1.5 hrs or so because of this oxygen deprivation thing.
Hey girl, The swing is tricky. Riley didn't have one right away, but I was at my wits end and bought one when he was about a month old. It sucked and I had to take it back. We went back and bought a newborn soothing center on clearance, and it didn't suck, but he HATED it. Screamed bloody murder anytime we put him in it.
Fast forward to December, at two and a half months old, we gave it another shot. He slowly grew to love it. He naps there, and at three months old started sleeping through the night there. Occasionally he'll wake up once.
I know I might regret it later, letting him sleep there all night long, every single night. But since Mitch works graveyard shifts, and it's just me and Ry, I really was losing my mind before. Now we're both happy, so until I decide it's time for him to move into his own room, (I can't bear the thought of him all alone in there yet) and sleep in his crib, this is how we'll sleep! :o)
As for the wipes warmer, I have one. But I didn't use it right away. Mine is for cloth wipes, since I use gDiapers with cloth inserts. It keeps them warm and wet and ready. I use the flushable inserts when out and about, with disposable wipes, which I just warm in my closed hand for a minute before changing him. He doesn't mind.
I did use Huggies when he was first born, before he grew into his g's, and I didn't use the wipes warmer then. Never any complaints from him! :o)
Sorry, I went on and on, lol!!! Every baby is different, but it's always nice to get input. Good luck figuring it out!!!
Sorry to weigh in on this so late.
The Swing- tough call. But I think Lucas has the right idea... test drive a friend's swing. If she likes it, it may be worth the investment. We inherited one from my older sister and it was wonderful to have with Alex. We haven't set it up yet for Adam... there's just no room in our house for it right now.
The wipes warmer - I don't think this is necessary. Nice, maybe, but necessary no. I've never warmed my kids wipes... not even in my hand. And they rarely cried through diaper changes. Luckily, they were so happy to have dry pants (or to just let it all hang out... boys!) that they usually ended up smiling or cooing during the diaper change.
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