Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Questions of Practicality... Baby Items

Thanks everyone!
Your advice really helped (and the 'horse snot' made me giggle)!

Some of you have kids, and some of you know people who have kids ;)

Some questions of practicality I have...

1.) Do newborns need bibs? Especially breastfeeding newborns?
2.) What do you reccommend for a diaper bag? I'm thinking of making one, but have seen some 'hacker' styles with lots of pockets that might be better...

I know I'll have other questions later, but these are the two basic ones that have been bumping in my head the past week...

I picked up a few small items at the flea market that were in really good condition. Over the next few weeks I'll be seeing what can be made easily and making a list of the things we need to get.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I wove my sister a bunch of what we called "spitty-wipies" for her newborns rather than bibs. Or, in other words, a whole bunch of smallish rectangles of cotton cloth for wiping up drool and other oral effluent :)

They were in 8/2 cotton, using different twill treadlings and colors. I'd already used such samples as horse snot rags, so I knew they'd handle baby spit just fine.

Jennifer said...

Yes, newborns need bibs, if not for the spit up alone. Also, I never used a diaper bag. I bought a fancy one from Eddie Bauer and ended up using the one that came for free at the hospital both times.

Anonymous said...

I had bibs but used cloth diapers for Boogie when she was a newborn. I had a really big diaper bag but ended up using one that was smaller, and cooler looking. It was really handy on long trips.

Chris said...

I don't think the bibs kicked in right away, but they were great as spit rags and the like. We virtually never buttoned them closed until she was much older.

Ladeewolf said...

On the diaper bag, I had a large one that always stayed in the car, but the one I carried in everywhere was a small one that had a zipper down the middle and unzipped into a quilt to lay the baby on. It was just big enough to hold 3 or 4 diapers and a bottle and a couple of toys. It was much more convenient than carrying in one of those big ones, and the quilt feature was handy for playing with or changing the baby.

Jeanne said...

My friends tend to have a big diaper bag, and a satellite diaper bag. The big one has everything, but gets left in the car for emergencies, while the smaller bag fits in the larger one, but carries a diaper change or two, a few wipes, a single change of clothes, etc.

mrspao said...

I can't help you there! :) but I can say that they need lots of clothes etc.

Lynn said...

baby bibs are absolutely necessary, as well as stretchy terry cloth sleepers. babies drool alot and you need something to catch the drool.
I make a cool baby bag out of a lunch bag. the kind you find a target or walmart. it is small and plastic with a closing top. face cloths: plain for bums and patterned for faces. small containers with snap lids are a godsend for holding cloths and other things. I say the smaller the bag the better. You lose your strength after birthing and heavy bags slow you down. I really want to make you one of my signature diaper bags, so if you are ok with it, I will send it when my pkg is done. It will have all the basic essentials in it. I will keep in mind you are more enviro conscious too. If you decide cloth diapers are something you want to do, be prepared that the ones with velcro all stick together in the laundry and require a bit of work getting them unstuck. Honestly though, in the long run it is really cheaper to use disposable diapers because they can hold alot of pee and you dont have to change them every 5 min.
My favourite bibs are the ones with snaps on the back. ties are difficult when the baby moves.
Had a few with a collar cuff that pulled over the head, they are very comfortable for the baby.
Target and Kmart have terry sleepers and terry bibs in multi packs for a really good price. Stretchy is best so you can get the mileage out of them.
Also there is a toy they like that you can either make or buy or put on your gift list. they are rattle socks or wrist rattles. babies love them. And....a mirror that is safe on the wall right where you will change the baby. they will love looking at themselves when you change them.
And...flannel receiving blankets are a must too. Lots of them. For nursing and napping and cuddling and wiping-they are all purpose.
Oh and the pets. Nurse the baby on the floor. this will ease the pet's curiosity and they will be really happy to sit and snuggle with you as you nurse and they wont get jealous.