This post may contain affiliate links and CorporetteMoms may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
If you’re proud of yourself for surviving the holidays, and feel like you made need a little somethin’ somethin’ for yourself, take a look at these lovely stud earrings. They’re blue topaz from David Yurman, so you’re not throwing away money on disposable jewelry — but at $395, it isn’t a HUGE splurge, either. I always feel like blue and red are great colors for earrings because they bring so much life to your complexion. (These also come in black onyx and pearl.) David Yurman ‘Chatelaine’ Earrings
(L-2)
Sales of note for 12.5.23…
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Nordstrom – Holiday sale up to 50% off; 5x the points on beauty for a limited time
- Ann Taylor – 40% off your purchase & extra 15% off sweaters
- Banana Republic – Up to 40% off select styles; up to 40% off sale styles
- Banana Republic Factory – 50% off everything & extra 20% off purchase
- Eloquii – Extra 60% off all sale
- J.Crew – 40% off your purchase with code
- Lands’ End – Up to 70% off everything; free shipping (readers love the cashmere)
- Loft – 50% off your purchase with code (ends 12/5)
- Summersalt – Up to 60% off select styles & free scarf with orders $125+ (this reader-favorite sweater blazer is down to $75)
- Talbots – 40% off your regular-price purchase; extra 50% off all markdowns
- Zappos – 34,000+ women’s sale items! Check out these reader-favorite workwear brands on sale, and some of our favorite kid shoe brands on sale.
Kid/Family Sales
- Crate&kids – Free shipping sitewide; up to 50% off toy + gift event; free monogramming for a limited time only (order by 12/15)
- J.Crew Crewcuts – 40% off your purchase with code
- Pottery Barn Kids – Up to 50% off toys, furniture & gifts
- Graco – Holiday savings up to 35% off; sign up for texts for 20% off full-price item
- Walmart – Up to 25% off top baby gifts; big savings on Delta, Graco, VTech, Fisher-Price & more
See some of our latest articles on CorporetteMoms:
Click here to see our top posts!
And — here are some of our latest threadjacks of interest – working mom questions asked by the commenters!
- If you’re a working parent of an infant with low sleep needs, how do you function at work when you’re in the throes of baby’s sleep regression?
- Should I cut my childcare down to 12 hours a month if I work from home?
- Will my baby have speech delays if we raise her bilingual?
- Has anyone given birth in a teaching hospital?
- My child eats everything, and my friends’ kids do not – how should I handle? In general, what is the best way to handle when your child has some skill/ability and your friend’s child doesn’t have that skill/ability?
- ADHD moms, give me your tips to help with things like behavior in the classroom, attention to detail, etc?
- I think I suffer from mom rage…
- My husband and kids are gone this weekend – how should I enjoy my free time?
- I’m struggling to be compassionate with a SAHM friend who complains she doesn’t have enough hours of childcare.
- If you exclusively formula fed, what tips do you have for in the hospital and coming home?
- Could I take my 4-yo and 8-yo on a 7-8 day trip to Paris, Lyon, and Madrid?
Butter says
Hi all, I’m doing an Amazon dump order of all the little things I think we’ll need in preparation for bebe arriving sometime in the next 3-6 weeks (!). Things like nail clippers, the nose frida, burp clothes (cloth diapers), etc. I think we need a thermometer – any recommendations? I’m confused about the different kinds I see, and the debates behind them. I think we have all the “big” things taken care of, but if you have any other NB essentials you want to share, please do!
Oh on that note – the little mitts so they don’t scratch their hands – is that something we actually need to buy or something the hospital will provide?
Butter says
Edited to add – so they don’t scratch their faces, not their hands!
Crimlaw mom says
I was just recently in your shoes, and now have a 4 month old.
If your bebe is anything like mine, you will need the mitts. Our hospital didn’t provide, and he had long claws and still loves to rub and scratch his face. I got some organ cotton ones from babies r us at my shower that stayed on well while he was little.
We have the Braun forehead thermometer but so far have only used the basic rectal–bonus is that it helps them poop.
Items from my Amazon dump that were needed: water wipes, medela wipes once I went back to work/pumped in car in a long trip, gas drops, humidifier, breastmilk storage bags from lasinoh, boon lawn drying rack
Not needed: bathtub elbow rest, changing pad liners, disposable diaper bags–although these are useful when we visit others
I recommend: some Jefferies white organic cotton socks (they actually stay on feet), a little giraffe blankie, vitamin d drops, the wonder weeks book, dermoplast blue can if you think you might have a vaginal birth (can’t find blue at cvs), mustela physibebe (baby windex), lecithin soft gels if breastfeeding, oxo perfect pull wipes dispenser
Anonymous says
From my experience, the hospital does not give you baby mittens. You should buy them if you want them or, in a pinch, you can use socks on the baby’s hands. We use a temporal thermometer, and sometimes an ear thermometer not that little one is older. But we also have a Vicks Baby Rectal Thermometer just in case. We’ve, fortunately, never had to use it but wanted to have it on hand in case the temporal read high and we needed to make sure it was accurate. Some other little things (I looked back at my similar amazon purchase for this!): Early baby books (black and white, bold pattern – We like the Look! Look! book, which is under $5); Diaper cream; Pacifiers; Bibs; Baby bath tub; Post-baby girdle or wrap, if you want to go that route
Thank you cards; Hand cream for yourself (you’re going to be washing your hands a lot).
Anonymous says
The disposable changing pads were great the first few months because your baby will likely poop and/or pee (especially with a boy) often while you change him/her. If you are having a boy and planning a circumcision, stock up on gauze, A&D ointment, and Bacetracin. Newborn nipples for your bottles in case you need to supplement with formula and/or pumped milk. Did you get n*pple cream for yourself? The hospital did not provide this and I was so glad I had my own!
Amelia Bedelia says
this is such a dumb question, but I need help. My kiddo is almost 18 months old. She still wears a sleep sack because she swims ALL OVER the crib. We keep our house fairly cold, and she is growing out of her current one. I’m reticent to buy a bigger one, because isn’t she old enough to use a blanket? We introduced a pillow about two months ago. She sleeps on it about 50% of the night. I’m concerned she will uncover herself in the night with the blanket and then freeze . . . but then I think I’m being slightly ridiculous. if she’s cold will she learn to cover herself?
did others wait until you transitioned out of the crib to introduce a blanket (we are shooting for six months from now)? Or did your swimmer kid just learn to adapt?
Thanks!
Lkl says
We aren’t at the blanket stage yet, but our 10 month baby sleeps in a onesie and fleece PJs only, and is totally happy even in our 64 degree house. (If it’s a really cold night, we put cotton one-piece pjs under the fleece ones.) You could try that, or a couple pairs of PJs, if you’d like to get out of the sleep sack but don’t want a blanket, or in addition to a blanket.
Amelia Bedevil says
thanks!
Amelia Bedelia says
stupid auto correct
Famouscait says
My 14m has been using (or, not using) a blanket for months. I also figure that if he’s cold he’ll figure it out. Many nights he goes to sleep in just a onesie. I always feel his hands and feet when I get him up and they’ve never been noticeably cold.
Amelia Bedelia says
yeah, that’s the thing. We keep our house around 65 or so at night and her hands are frequently cold in the morning.
Philanthropy Girl says
I have a 16 month old – we introduced a blanket at around a year. He mostly sleeps on top of it. Once he could stand up and move around he got really angry about the sleep sacks because he couldn’t stand up in his crib, so we abandoned sleep sacks early. He’s pretty mobile when he sleeps, but I think the big thing is he always rolls over/on top of the blanket. I’m also worried he’ll freeze, but he never does. Cribs seem to stay pretty warm.
His room at home usually stays pretty warm, even when we’ve had nights the furnace doesn’t want to cooperate. But my mom’s house is always really cool and over Christmas he wasn’t bothered at all by the cool – and continued to sleep on top of his blankets. I’d put him in polar fleece footie jammies with an undershirt on underneath (my sister would often put a pair of socks on my nephew under the jammies too – but I never did), and he seemed quite content. I’d usually try to cover him back up when I go to bed, but he’s always uncovered by morning.
She’ll be fine with a blanket, particularly if she doesn’t have bare feet. As long as the cool isn’t interrupting her sleep (she’ll probably wake up if she gets too chilled), I wouldn’t worry.
Amelia Bedelia says
the socks on under the fleece pjs is a great idea. and the onesie. That’s pretty much like a sleep sack!
ECR says
Halo Early Walker Sleep Sacks! They are fleece sleep sacks with feet, so perfect for the 18-24 month range. Available on Amazon. They allow the feet and legs freedom to move, while ensuring that baby stays warm and covered. We LOVE them. So much better than a blanket. My 21-month-old swims all over the crib too and there’s no way a blanket would work for her. She loves her sleep sack though.
Amelia Bedelia says
oooh. I may have to look at that. thanks!
Anonymous says
I read somewhere (can’t find the link at the moment) that kids are 3-4 years old before they can reliably cover themselves/stay under their blankets to avoid being cold. Some may be able to do that at younger ages but most can’t. Our 4 year old is still above his blankets or has them very tangled about 2/7 nights.
Spirograph says
Yes. My 2.5 year old regularlt wakes up crying in the middle of the night because he’s somehow kicked his blankets to the bottom of his bed and is cold.
Both my kids had blankets around a year, but they definitely don’t stay under them.
Msj says
My toddlers use the large baby Dee Dee sleepnest which they describe as a wearable duvet. It’s about $50, so not cheap, but really comfortable. They don’t get sweaty like the fleece ones. The upside is while they can stand in the crib, they can’t climb out of it. I figure it will work until they move to a toddler bed. At which point, we can do a blanket.
Anonymous says
Love the Dee Dee sacks. For your child’s age, I think a sleep sack that is not footed would be best so that she doesn’t climb out the crib. The Halo early walker sleep sack, as someone else recommended, is fantastic but I only used it when my son was around 2.5 and could climb out on his own (best to prevent them from climbing out for as long as you can!).
Anonymous says
Ok, moms, I need someone to shake some sense into me. I have a 6 week old baby and will be going back to work in February. Due to work schedules, DH will drop off every day and I will do pick up every day. We will walk to and from either daycare we are considering.
We’ve been on the wait list at one daycare, let’s call it CC for chain center. It’s a national, vey high-quality chain with NAEYC accreditation and a family member used it until last month for her son from newborn to age 3, so we know it is a great place for kids. The ratio is 2:1 for infants and it’s walkable from our home and work (a mile, so not a short walk, especially in the dead of winter or summer). Cons? It’s very expensive (500+/week), and both DH and I felt like it was kind of sterile, or not homey.
We recently toured another center that is not a chain but is a licensed facility (LF) It’s much smaller– only 8 kids under 2. It felt much more homey and more like the daycare DH went to growing up. It’s significantly cheaper than CC ($4400/year difference) and closer to home and work (.5 miles).
DH is dying to put down a deposit at LF. I can’t tell if I’m resisting because I don’t quite love it, or if I am never going to *love* a daycare– I’m really struggling with the idea of going back to work, although staying at home longer or going part time/flex work are not options. So I think that is why I am hesitating. The things I am not liking about LF seem sort of trivial (no stroller storage room, so we’d have to buy a new cheap stroller to leave outside, 3:1 ratio instead of 2:1). We’d need to sign a one-year contract with LF, and there is a 12-Month wait list at CC, so it’s not like we can try it for month and see how it goes.
I’m being crazy right? There’s no red flags about LF– I’ve read inspection reports and did like it when I toured. We’d get more time with DC every day since it’s closer, and while we could swing the higher price of CC, it’d be a bit of strain on our budget and I would love to throw that $4k at our student loans instead. I think I am just sad that kiddo will be in anydaycare, period.
Thoughs/commiseration welcome, although it was kind of therapeutic just to type that out…
Anonymous says
Sorry for incoherent sections and grammar… Typing with one hand because there’s a baby Asleep on my other one ! Things I will really miss when I’m back at work…
Lkl says
LF sounds great to me! Our kid is at a fantastic home center that is 8 kids and 2 adults (only 4 are under age 2), and that ratio has always been totally fine, if that’s your concern. $500/week is insane, particularly when the LF sounds a lot better in terms of being closer and homier.
Anonymous says
Thanks, that’s helpful as I think the only objectively valid concern I had was the ratio. Was your kid there as an infant?
Lkl says
Starting at 6 months, but there are other babies his exact age that started at 3 months.
Spirograph says
My daughter was in a home daycare with about 8 kids (4 under 2) and 3 adults at 4 months. Our current center has 3:1 ratio (6 infants per room) plus helpers/floaters for the infants, and DD started there around 6 months. Unless every one of the 6 babies is crying at once, I don’t really think a 2:1 ratio offers much benefit over 3:1. The more important thing to me is that there are people to “spell” the teachers if needed.
I’d go with LF and never look back!
Syd says
Definitely the small cozy LF!! Our center is a little bigger (16 kids under two), but I love love love how all the teachers at every age level know all the kids, the managers are active in the classrooms and know all the kids, even the cook helps out when needed! It’s a true community. Ratio is 4 to 1 and we’ve never had a problem. I’ve quickly realized that I don’t care what “curriculum” my toddler is doing, I care that he feels loved and safe. To me that sounds like the LF you described.
Anonymous says
Being as close as possible to the daycare from home/work is so, so great. We used to live 1/2 mile from daycare and now we’re 1 mile away from our current one. Like you said, 1 mile is not too bad but in the winter/hot summers it can be a trek.
You might feel better if you talk to some parents who have their kids at LF to get their view. Is LF a family daycare?
FVNC says
My daughter is a little over 2 years old, and has been in a national chain center with a good reputation (but not Bright Horizons) since she was 4 months old. It has been a good, not great, experience. The biggest downside (for me) is that she switches rooms every 5 months or so, and she just started in her 5th room this week. SHE does fine with the change, but I hate adjusting to new teachers and new classroom routines so frequently. Contrary to what the director told us when we toured the facility, the center has very high employee turnover, so she is often cared for by people whose names I don’t know, which really bugs me even if she doesn’t seem to care. If I had to do it again, I’d choose a center or home based daycare that has more caregiver continuity. Although I’d be very attracted to the 2:1 ratio at CC in your scenario, I’d probably choose the LF if I were in your shoes if she is going to be changing rooms often at CC.
POSITA says
I know you’ve toured both places, but if it were me I’d try to go back for another visit. Can you think of a question or two that you’d want to ask and just drop by? How long have the teachers been with each facility? Teacher turnover is a good gauge for happy teachers and a well run center.
My advice is to go with the place that brings you the most peace of mind. Don’t worry about things like stroller parking. Where would you be the most comfortable leaving your child on your first day back? Going back is hard enough when you feel good about your choice.
Anonymous says
+1 to teacher turnover – changing teachers can be hard on kids
TK says
I echo everyone here and say go with the closer, cheaper option.
That extra 1/2 mile will seem VERY LONG with a hungry / tired / otherwise foul-moody baby – toddler. And, certainly the cost of an additional, cheaper stroller is less than the premium you’d pay for ‘stroller storage’ at CC?
BKDC says
+1
I switched from a daycare that was probably 1/3 of a mile away to one that is one mile because the new facility is nicer, cheaper and there is less turnover of the teachers. But the added distance (we primarily walk or take the bus) has been killer. If you have the chance to go with a daycare that is much closer, take it, provided that it meets your standards.
BKDC says
Also, consider babywearing if the facility is that close. Then you eliminate the need for stroller storage.
Anonymous says
+1 – both you and baby may enjoy this. My littles are too big to be worn now and I miss it so much.
Ciao, pues says
this is a great recommendation!
Anonymous says
Thanks a lot everyone. I think I will try to go back to each. We toured the chain before I had a baby, so I think I would look at it with slightly new eyes now. I’ve asked the smaller place for references. Good to know though that everyone seems to agree that the smaller place seems to be a good idea. Really appreciate all the second opinions. None of my friends have kids so DH and I are flying blind on all this parenting stuff!
EB0220 says
Those are pretty good ratios. My oldest was in a 1:4 ratio as an infant, which is the best I’d seen until I sent my younger daughter to my company daycare. They were 1:3 officially, but almost always had a floater making it 1:2. I totally agree with revisiting now that you have a baby. I had a completely different take on childcare after my oldest was born and regretted my choice. And, babywearing, definitely!
Anon in NYC says
Vacation question. My husband and I have booked our first post-baby vacation! We’re renting an apartment in Charleston, if anyone has recommendations. I do have a question though… what do people do at night on vacation after their kids go to sleep to make it feel more like a vacation?
JJ says
Sit in bed and read our Kindles with the lights off and then go to bed super early in we’re in a hotel room. :)
Since you’re renting an apartment, you should be able to put the baby in a different room. We’ll pack our monitor on trips like that and then go to the main room. We’ve actually brought a blu-ray player or Roku on trips like this, so we can always find something to watch on TV. We’ll open some good wine and relax.
Philanthropy Girl says
Yes – I always take a book light when we travel with baby!
Along with a way to watch movies, we’ve also taken board games and puzzles, assuming we can put the baby to sleep in another room.
Our son goes to bed really early, so we’d probably consider ordering in dinner from somewhere kinda fancy and have a “date” after the baby goes to bed.
Have fun!
Butter says
OMG, Charleston is one of my favorite places in the world. Have you been before? I could give about 100 recs for restaurants, but will start with Cru Cafe and Hominy Grill for casual, delicious food. Husk has a separate building that houses their bar that has delicious food and might be more baby-friendly than the actual restaurant. FIG and McCrady’s are amazing if you want a night out without the babe. If the weather is nice and you have a car, I’d pop out to Bowen’s Island for oysters and a view of the dolphins swimming by, Middleton Place for a stroll and some farm animals (and stop at the Glass Onion on the way back for another delicious and casual meal), and Johns Island to check out the Angel Oak. Wadmalaw Island also great for a drive.
In terms of things to do after the baby is sleeping – this might be a ridiculous suggestion but my favorite thing to do is walk around the Battery/neighborhoods south of Broad at night (cobblestone streets, gaslights galore), and I’m wondering if you couldn’t pop the baby in a stroller and walk with a discrete glass of wine or two in an adult sippy cup? Of course this only works if you’re staying downtown/within walking distance of the Battery ;)
Anon in NYC says
Thanks! We’ve never been before, so the recommendations are much appreciated!
RDC says
Yes to takeout, tv and going to bed early :) I got a cheap audio monitor to use when we travel so we don’t have to take our video one. Or you can do the iPhone hack – just open a call and leave one in each room. But you want to make sure the phone in your room is on mute :)
Butter says
Hmm, I think first time I posted my question got stuck in moderation so trying again but apologies if this shows up twice…
I’m doing an amazon dump order for all the little things I think we’ll need for bebe’s arrival sometime in the next 3-6 weeks (!). Things like burp clothes (cloth diapers), the nose frida, nail clippers, etc. I think we need a baby thermometer, any recs? I’m confused by all the differing information. Also any other NB essentials you’d recommend or things that made your life easier in the first few weeks? We have all the “big” stuff to the best of my knowledge, but happy to take any recs.
Oh, and do we need a pair of those tiny mitts that prevent babies from scratching their faces, or is that something the hospital might provide? Thanks in advance!
Maria says
Following, since our baby comes mid-Feb and I want to get my Amazon order ready.
Oil in Houston says
I have a temple thermometer and love it
we had to use bibs a lot quicker than we thought due to baby having GERD (severe acid reflux), so that might be something to have on hand just in case as it will be handy anyway later on
do you have a swing? it was the only way I was able to get a shower those first few weeks
same for a baby carrier, only way I got any lunch or dinner done! I got the mei tai one and loved it
I got a wipe warmer as well, it seemed like such an extravagant thing when I was pregnant, until I got a baby who couldn’t stand anything cold on her, it made diaper changing a lot easier!
that was a bit of a brain dump! but hope it helps
POSITA says
Don’t feel the need to buy everything now. Get the minimum and put the rest on a wish list. You’ll have a better idea what you need later. For instance, my baby wasn’t a spitter so we only went through a couple of burp cloths a week. Other babies need one an hour. You just don’t know. It’s easy to order later if you need something. Prime 2 day shipping will be your best friend.
We went with a cheap rectal thermometer for our infant and it was fine. The biggest thing is to find a thermometer that you trust. We have a fancy ear one now and I never trust the temp it gives me because it can change so much from reading to reading. So frustrating.
JJ says
The hospital didn’t provide mitts, but we never needed them. I know other people did, you may want to wait out and see if you do.
Baby nail clippers that have rubber grippers for more precise nail clipping (it’s horrible to clip infant nails).
The Gerber cloth diapers were the best burp clothes that we used.
The Johnson and Johnson antibacterial wipes in the yellow pouch are handy for about a million things. We still use them and my oldest is almost 4.
Boogie wipes, however, will clean a snotty nose and face better than anything.
A bottle warmer, if that will be applicable to you.
Clementine says
Things that have made my life with a newborn better/easier:
Rock and Play (love it)
nosefrieda
Zutano booties
Baby washcloths
Earth momma angel baby nipple butter and butt butter and Avent hard nipple shells
Nursing tanks (target and Bravado)
maya wrap ring sling
Big stack of tie dyed cloth diapers for burp cloths
If pumping or nursing:
boon grass drying rack
Simple wishes hands free pumping bra
Good luck!
Butter says
Happy to see the Zutano booties on your list – I hadn’t gotten those yet but really wanted them, and now you’ve pushed them over the edge into the “must have” pile!
Anon in NYC says
Love the Zutano booties. Expensive, but they keep my LO’s feet really warm and she can’t kick them off.
Anonymous says
Plus one for these! Well worth the $ in cost per wear terms.
Katala says
+1 DS is outgrowing his and we’re buying another pair, no question, with several months left of winter and before he’s walking. We didn’t have them yet but probably would have used them during the summer instead of socks for air conditioning etc.
Anonymous says
Mine wears her Zutano booties daily, and has for months now. I second (third?) everything Clementine said, except the rock and play – no issue with it, I just haven’t personally used it.
I didn’t have a ring sling but had a wrap. You need… something. If you can, go to a store that specializes in baby wearing and have them show you the different options. Or a baby wearing international meetup. I really really preferred a wrap (the Solly) for a newborn (then switched to ergo 360 with no insert around 3 months), but a friend has used the bjorn since day 1 and loves it. It’s very personal so recommendations don’t mean much. Next baby (god willing) I’m definitely getting a ring sling.
Katarina says
I have a cheap rectal thermometer, which is the most accurate type. This is important if the baby gets sick while very young. I have only actually used the under-arm thermometer I got for free from the hospital. Temporal and ear thermometers are not as accurate, but may be useful as a first check to tell if the baby has a fever, and then a more accurate method if it seems like they do. I have always found that the forehead kiss method worked fine for this purpose, though.
The hospital did not provide mitts, but we never used them.
You still go out to the store and/or order more things if you desperately need them. It is not necessary to have everything in advance. I bought a lot of extra nursing supplies in the early days. I especially liked the Medela lanolin and Johnson & Johnson breast pads.
JTX says
I highly recommend the Piyo Piyo baby nail scissors that are available on amazon, as opposed to a traditional nail clipper. It’s much easier to use and easier to avoid accidents.
+1 to the traditional rectal thermometer while the baby is an infant. We have a temple and an ear thermometer and I don’t trust either one of them. The rectal thermometers seem the most consistent and accurate.
+1 to the earth mama angel baby nipple cream
+1 to swing and/or rock and play
+1 to nosefrieda
I’d wait to buy these, but if you are breastfeeding and have sore n*pples, I highly recommend the Ameda comfortgel hydrogel pads.
anon says
Newborn sized diapers, diaper cream, wipes, Lanolin cream and nursing pads (I recommend Johnson & Johnson) if you plan to nurse. Good to have a thermometer on hand, although at a year we still haven’t had to use it. I would say somewhere to set the baby down (Rock n play etc.) is important right from the beginning (omg we were just putting baby on the floor, the first week, and he did NOT like it), and a carrier within the first couple weeks. But you don’t need much more than diapers/wipes/nursing stuff/somewhere to set the baby down right at the beginning. Amazon prime!!!
same anon says
We never used mitts, baby nail clippers (swiss army knife!), wipes warmer or bottle warmer. I would wait to see if you need them first. Some babies like swings, some don’t.
(was) due in june says
I bite my baby’s fingernails off. It works so much better and is so much safer in my mind than futzing with clippers. You just have a lot more precision and sensitivity with your mouth than a tool. I do it probably once a week. She’s 7.5m now and I finally bought clippers to use on her toenails.
MDMom says
We have baby nail clippers but abandoned them early on. A small pair (ie fingernail not toenail) of adult nail clippers is much more effective and I think probably safer because it is so much faster. The dull baby nail clippers + soft baby nails is a very frustrating combo. It took a month or two for us to get the confidence to use the adult ones though. Hand coverings work fine for first month or so (A+ for outfits that have them attached) but after that, its better to just clip the nails. If you really want “mittens” just use socks.
MDMom says
Number one thing if you don’t already have it is amazon prime/amazon mom. Then anything you need can be yours in 8hrs-2 days. Other than thermometer, you can pretty much wait and see. My baby spits up a crazy amount and I use the 20 flannel receiving blankets we got as gifts for burp cloths. They work great for this. Too small to swaddle with (especially after first month) so not sure what else they are intended for. I have never used a nose Frieda and my babe is 7.5 months so your mileage may vary (I do have one on hand but never opened). Husband is a doctor and advises not mucking around in there unless you really need to.
Do you have supplies for you? Tucks. Pads/depends (sorry). Earth mama angel baby bottom balm. Ni**le balm (I like motherlove). Maybe a stash of protein bars and gatorade.
SC says
I typed out a longer post, but it didn’t go through. +1 on supplies for you – and this was the stuff I was happy not to go out to buy (or ask relatives to go out and buy) or to wait 48 hours for. I used Tucks, Dermoplast, super-absorbent but thin pads, ni**le balm/lanolin, and gel soothies. You may also want some stool softener if you don’t have it already. Also, I’d recommend a soft, smooth bathrobe (not terrycloth or waffle print), some nursing tanks, and a snack you can eat with one hand — I made trail mix, but protein bars would work too.
Butter says
Thanks for these! This is definitely part of the order – all the stuff I can’t bring myself to stroll the aisles at Target for, ha.
mascot says
I liked the Preparation H wipes over Tucks pads since they covered more. Also, some people swear by the mesh pantaloons that the hospital gives you, but other people like comfy cotton ones that they can just toss if needed. I clipped my child’s nails in the hospital, but soon found that nibbling them off while nursing was much easier.
CPA Lady says
Good call. I bought depends at target, and got print out coupons for depends for months and months afterwards every single time I shopped at Target. Great reminder of that “happy” time…
Katala says
Hahaha, I am SO glad amazon didn’t try to sell me depends… I think they may have some algorithm that knows tucks + depends + nipple cream + All The Baby Things doesn’t mean repeat depends buyer.
Katala says
Late reply, but wish I knew – get the plainest pads you can. I liked stayfree, they weren’t as thin but had a cottony top. I had stitches and always/Kotex ultra thin pads hurt a lot until i figured out it was the high-tech material causing issues.
EB0220 says
Yes, so true! The plastic-y high tech fabric stuck to my stitches. Ouch!!!
Anonymous says
All you need is Amazon Prime and Lanolin. You’ll get everything else within 48 hours from Amazon Prime as you need it. (the mittens are ridiculous by the way and totally not necessary)
RDC says
Rock n play. Also, If planning to bf, it’s a good idea to get your pump (and get it ready to go) in case you need it the first few days/weeks. (Eg if baby is having trouble latching, you need to pump to keep your supply up.)
You can get most other stuff as you go along :)
Katala says
The hospital I delivered at brought us a nice (well, branded but decent quality) diaper bag with newborn hat, mitts, t shirt and a little kit w/ thermometer, nail clippers, nose bulb and probably some other stuff. So you might check since we ended up schlepping home a duplicates. I liked the stuff they provided better (esp. The nail clippers, I can’t seem to find ones as nice). We never used the mitts and didn’t have a problem with scratching. But I went to town with the aforementioned nail clippers, so ymmv.
Congrats! Makes me nostalgic for all the nesting.
Butter says
Thanks all, this is so helpful!! I feel very prepared (well, as much as I can be), but also happy to know that Amazon Prime is on my side for anything we forget.
Preemie Mom says
I don’t think I saw these things suggested, and I wish I had thought of them when I did my “I want to use my 15% off Amazon Mom Registry Completion Discount” order (although not all may qualify):
-Cool Mist Humidifier, with TONS of extra filters (at least 6) – we like the Honeywell germ-free one, but you still have to change the filter often to keep it from getting gross, and it’s always nice to have an extra on hand for when you need it
-Cheap button-up PJ shirts if planning to BF – Amazon had some for under $15 that were not the greatest quality but perfect for the early days
-HUGE high-waisted granny panties – I had literally no underwear in my possession that I could wear after my unplanned C-section. The ones I had bought for post-partum from Target were too low-wasted and sat right on top of my scar. The mesh ones from the hospital got me through for a bit, but it quickly became clear I was going to run out so I ended up overnighting these on Amazon Prime.
-Kiidie bottle warmer – takes a long time, but supposedly the best for breastmilk. We used from day one at home. Our situation may be unique, but might be nice to have on hand if you are bottle feeding for any reason – much easier than using hot water method, in my opinion. Also pricey, so would be nice to get the registry completion discount on it.
Tunnel says
Also, baby nail files. I filed baby’s nails for the first few weeks until the skin separated from his nails. Really helped.
Famouscait says
I decided to be “Organized!” this week and made a big batch of cheese tortellini with peas and corn for my kiddo to eat. Turns out he is not a fan of cheese tortellini with peas and corn this week. So, I am finishing MY final meal of cheese tortelli with peas and corn for lunch. Blech. I hate tortellini. And toddler food-swings.
FVNC says
Ha! I suspect I will be doing the same thing with the fancy organic fish sticks that my daughter has now decided are the devil. Or the dog will be a happy boy.
Famouscait says
Mine really needs to get back on board with broccoli. Its my go-to green veggie.
Anonymous says
Hahahahahaha oh my god this is hilarious. Because the exact same thing has happened to me.
JJ says
I have so been there. We had fancy cheese raviolis shaped like fish for lunch last week, when my sons decided they hate fancy cheese raviolis shaped like fish for dinner.
Anonymous says
It never ends. My daughter is 8 years old and will say, “I love this! I want it every day!” and then disavow all knowledge of the conversation when I purchase large quantities of said food product the next week. Or worse, she will beg me to cook some special time-consuming dish and then turn up her nose at it. My favorite was the time she persuaded me to cook an Indian dish from scratch when what she actually wanted was some organic boxed hamburger helper-type thing I could have made in a third the time.
Anonymous says
Love the term “toddler food swings”!
ezt says
Does anyone have a back carrier that you love? My 1.5 year old is not a big fan of his stroller. He loves to walk/run, but is not great about walking in the desired direction (he will try to wrestle free and run off even when both of us are holding a hand each), so letting him walk isn’t a great option unless we’re just chilling in the park. We have an older Bjorn that is just front/back facing while carrying on the chest, and I strongly doubt he’ll go for that anymore, but he might be content to chill in a back or side carrier – thoughts? TIA!
Anonymous says
We love our Ergo for that age. Tula and Lenny Lamb both make ones designed specifically for toddler size. I would check on FB for a babywearing group in your area as they often have meet ups where you can try on different ones to see what you like best.
Anonymous says
Also, walking with 1.5 year old does involve a certain amount of stops to stare at a snail or pick up a stick. We let our guy run until he’s tired and then he’s usually quite happy in the carrier for the majority of the walk.
ezt says
I hear you, we try our best to let him run, but his attraction to hazards makes it pretty hard unless we’re in some sort of open space…he will run into street and/or pedestrian traffic immediately. I guess I should clarify I’m mostly talking about trying to walk around in the city.
NewMomAnon says
I had the same thought, ezt. My toddler seems compelled to move as quickly as possible toward the most dangerous spot in any given situation. If it’s a lake at the park…I can handle it. If it’s a speeding bus or car quickly backing out of a parking space, totally different story.
dog training says
Sometime we use the same tricks on the child as the dogs.
Once he got a little bit older and was steady on his feet, we taught our kid a stop command “red light.” We yell it, he stops. He thought it was a fun game and learned that if he listened, he would get a bit more invisible leash for running. It’s not 100% perfect and it’s not appropriate for areas where you need to hold hands anyways (like busy parking lots where little people aren’t visible), but it did wonders for giving him an outlet.
NewMomAnon says
I use my Ergo with my 2 year old, but I also got a Boba Air because it packs up really small and I can throw it in my small diaper bag. It’s a little tricky to get the Boba Air into back carry position, but I can do it solo and it has come in handy for long walks through the parking lot (thanks holiday grocery store shoppers) and other situations in which I don’t feel safe with my kiddo running free. I think the Ergo was easier to get into back carry, but still not “easy”.
My kiddo still likes the front carry in either of them, but my lower back HATES front carry with a 28 lb toddler. I can’t do the hip carry with my Ergo (I’m short and the strap cuts across my throat), and Boba Air doesn’t do hip carry.
EB0220 says
Kinderpacks are awesome and have four different sizes from infant to preschool. They are kind of hard to buy, though, and can usually be obtained on Facebook B/S/T groups rather than on the kinderpack website. Tula also has a toddler carrier that many love, although I have never personally used one.
Samantha says
Try the backpacks with leash attached. We had a monkey one with a tail=leash, and it was invaluable because it gave the kiddo the room to roam free, and allowed me to rein him back if he got too far. The leash was fairly long.
Famouscait says
BEWARE AUTOPLAY AD:
http://www.onionstudios.com/videos/report-many-companies-now-offering-women-permanent-unpaid-maternity-leave-2177
But it is so worth it. Very funny!
stepsiblings help? says
I’m pregnant with my first, but my stepdaughter (age 9) lives with us half time. She’ll be 10 when the baby is born. She is SUPER excited about the baby, which is great, but I am trying to be as sensitive as possible to making sure she still feels special when the baby comes. The age difference is in some ways good (she wants to babysit, really looks forward to helping and learning about babies), but in some ways tough….I’m imagining when she’s 15 and going through those glorious years I remember putting my own mom through, and her annoying little brother or sister is just starting kindergarten.
I’m also concerned that we have a rather small house (two bedroom). Right now the plan is to move the baby into the sunroom eventually. I hate to make SD share her bedroom, as that might seem like we’re pushing her out in favor of the new baby.
Any books people can suggest, or anything you did to make the transition smooth? I have a good relationship with SD – I’ve known her since she was 4 (when her dad and I got serious), and am also lucky that both my husband and I have a good relationship with her mom. Would love to hear any thoughts!
Anonymous says
No advice on stepsiblings but my sister and I are 10 years apart and when I was born we were living in a 2 bedroom as well. I believe my sister kept her room and my mom, dad, and I slept in the other room for a long time. My older sister was super excited by my arrival. I think the key is to involve your stepdaughter as much as possible. a 9 year old can do a LOT (ie: change diapers (maybe just pee), give bottles, feed solids, get him dressed — all with training, of course). Make her feel included and she’ll feel important. Congrats!
OP says
thank you!