05 May 2011 3 Comments
Newborn Non-Essentials (But are Nice to Have)
Every new parent should know what is necessary for their family and what is just a money grab. Many baby items are available to make our lives easier and to occupy our babies. They are surely nice to have but not necessary.
Here are the few things that we could have done without for nurturing a new baby but I’m so glad we got because they were definitely helpful and nice to have during the first few months.
Itzbeen Baby Care Timer – For a first time breastfeeding mom with a baby who had jaundice, and needed to be fed and diaper checked every couple hours, this timer system was beyond helpful. Now that I am an experienced parent, I probably won’t need it with Small Fry #2 but it was invaluable to me when Jordan was born.
Bouncy Seat – Since every baby is different, some will love a bouncer and some won’t. Jordan wasn’t a big fun of the bouncer and he would only stay there for 15 minutes at the most but it’s still nice to have if you need to use the bathroom and need a safe place to put him in real quick.
Changing Table – It is just as simple to change a baby on the floor or bed but having a changing table is so much easier on your back.
Diaper Genie- I know it’s just a glorified trash can and the refills are a bit pricey but I really love our Diaper Genie because we don’t have to worry about the nursery being stinky (yes, it really contains the smell). We’ve had ours since day one and we’re still using it and will keep using it until the Small Fry #2 is potty trained.
Little Giraffe embroidered blanket- For $85 + $20 monogramming fee (if you want it personlized), it’s definitely not a must but so nice to have. It’s a super soft and luxurious blanket! We will definitely get one again for our Small Fry #2!
Skip Hop Playspot Foam Tiles – Probably the most stylish (but priciest too for $79) that I’ve seen for a simple foam playmat. It’s BPA-free, Phthalate-free, PVC-free so definitely kid-friendly flooring for your house.
Oct 21, 2011 @ 07:45:42
Rather than the foam playmats, have you seen the Parklon/LG Hausys playmats? You’ll probably see a Pororo version in just about every Korean household with a baby. They’re great because they’re soft and cushy, and unlike the foam mats with interlocking pieces, your baby can’t take it apart and eat it. They are pricey, but I’ve found the playmat to be one of the best baby purchases we’ve made. They come in a variety of sizes and prints.
Pororo version – http://www.haeorumusa.com/missy_shop/prod_detail.asp?prod_code=park030
Amazon has them too – http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Care-Play-Mat-Friends/dp/B0058K5IIQ/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1319208171&sr=8-6
May 07, 2011 @ 23:54:56
I have to second that a Diaper Genie is a must have. We actually went through over 1 year without the diaper genie and throwing the diapers out every night is quite a chore. When the weather got hotter and muggier the smell was unbearable. The main reason why we didnt get the Diaper Genie is because we thought with the size of the container we would be having to go through the liners as fast as buying diapers but we actually only go through the liners every 3 weeks and the diaper genie actually holds more diapers than we thought – we empty it out only twice a week. The diaper genie will be in my top things to buy if we do not still have it when we have our next child.
May 06, 2011 @ 11:59:40
The diaper genie is a must have I think. It does GREAT for odor control :-)
DP
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