Woohoo!

[skanji]

Babies Rule!

Expecting our first in 6 weeks...a boy...looking forward to all the leaf gear I get as we need a ton of diapers!!!

Any advice out there? What's a must buy for a newborn and what's over rated?

[Hurk]

I'm all for the for babies and "Family" even though I'm lacking on the children. I'm hoping this forum provides an educative "Safe Haven" for parents and mature members to post some really great advice!

[bubble.tea]

woohoo!!!

is right.


Wondering what exactly to go with this forum?

We naturally need parent-nights.., or parent-meets.

Skanjii...we organizing RFD's first Young toddlers parent meet?

I'm VERY down.

Do we want this forum to be about ANYTHING parent-related....or ONLY about PARENT-related DEALS??? I need guidance before the powerful force we know as bubble.tea is unleashed on the forum :cheesygri

[Kranberry]

Babies Rule!

Expecting our first in 6 weeks...a boy...looking forward to all the leaf gear I get as we need a ton of diapers!!!

Any advice out there? What's a must buy for a newborn and what's over rated?

Congrats.

Spend the money on a good LIGHT stroller. I thought the big giant stroller travel system would be great and solve all our needs. Problem is it takes up 90% of my trunk. Getting a lighter one would mean more trunk space for other things. First stroller if you can clamp on an infant seat, can be used for like the first 4 years, better get 1 light one to use for 4 years, than have to buy a light one later on like me.

Oh Diaper Genie or the likes is in my books a definite. Don't want to smell your house up, even though it is unavoidable. At least you minimize it.

Other than that, depending on your child/budget, other things may be a must.

[3weddings]

A bumbo seat...I wish they were out there when mine were small!!

Don't buy the generic wipes!! You end up using more of them since they are thinner!!!

Don't buy a car seat that will go from rear facing to a booster, chances are there will be one out there that is better when your child hits 40 lbs and it will be so ratty and filthy that you won't want to use it.

Don't be a hero....gripe water is your friend!!

Ohhh..I have a million of these, but homework questions await!

....and CONGRATS!

[charliebrown]

Congrats.

Spend the money on a good LIGHT stroller. I thought the big giant stroller travel system would be great and solve all our needs. Problem is it takes up 90% of my trunk. Getting a lighter one would mean more trunk space for other things. First stroller if you can clamp on an infant seat, can be used for like the first 4 years, better get 1 light one to use for 4 years, than have to buy a light one later on like me.

Oh Diaper Genie or the likes is in my books a definite. Don't want to smell your house up, even though it is unavoidable. At least you minimize it.

Other than that, depending on your child/budget, other things may be a must.

+1 on the diaper genie/champ (our 1 month old likes to poop @ 3am)

+1 for the aria car seat + stroller system (wifey likes the colour choices & it's quite light compared to the graco travel systems)

best of luck!

[3weddings]

Here's the deal ....you have to have the three questions responded to and it prints as a part of the coupon in order to get your Bonus Points.

I just got back from my SDM and got mine :lol: , tried with just the coupon, and they asked for the questions. Luckily I had both with me (I wanted dh's card to credited too :-0 )

[AnnaBanana]

-Get newborn diapers and size 1's just in case (depending on the size of your baby you may be into the 1's sooner than you realize!)
-Buy wipes in BULK - you'll go through tons...
-Diaper genie is good, but if your baby is breastfed, the diapers will really not stink at all - so you can save money by just keeping a plastic bag near the change table
-You'll need lots of diaper shirts / sleepers - no need for 'real clothes' (cute sweaters / jeans) for the first while, you'll be changing so many diapers that you'll be tempted to leave your baby wrapped in a blanket at times.. I know we did.
-Some kind of diaper bag (doesn't need to be an 'official one') - keep lots of diapers, a change of clothes, and wipes in it.. Keep it packed at all times so that if you need to leave in a hurry one day you aren't running around trying to fill it up with stuff
-Cook / bake NOW so that you have stuff in the freezer / fridge for when the baby arrives - there's nothing better than knowing that you don' thave to think about cooking when you have a newborn... Days fly by and you won't even realize that you haven't eaten
-Take TONS of pictures - you'll regret it if you don't as they grow up so quickly!

I think that's it - let us know if you have any specific questions that we can answer to help you out, and GOOD LUCK!!!

A.B.

[AnnaBanana]

And...

save.ca always has diaper coupons for the brand names, so use them.. but we find that the no-name brands are JUST as good (sometimes better) - so don't be afraid to buy one of those packs to try them out!

[mrcantrell]

Get a Costco membership. It'll be well worth it.

[nalababe]

Tips...

If you are into cosleeping then try the armsreach.com cosleeper

Diaper Champ!

Try different diapers. Some just fit better. For us, the Huggies Supreme just fit better than cheaper and more expensive brands...fit better means less leakage...

Baby Bjorn (tried and liked this make specifically)

Actually liked the tank sized stroller. Took it everywhere, from around Toronto, to the heat of Australia and the Carribean to the snows of a Montreal Winter...what we liked best was that he would always be comfortable and we had storage room for everything that we could need.

Stroller had the car seat (reverse mount) then forwards...but had to change as he got too big and we needed straps that were farther up the seat...now had to move to a booster. (at 3 1/2 he is 40" and 40lbs and slim)

When we tried solid food (6 months), I made most of his food. Always kept bags of frozen veggies (carrots, beans, edamame, squash, peas...you name it). Never stopped the fruit and veggies...even now, at Christmas, instead of picking chocolates off the tree, he went to the fridge to get raw snap peas and carrots (he's 3). Keep trying different foods. We never have to worry when travelling as we know there will always be something for him to eat!

Books for you...Dr. Sears!!!

Books for Cooking: Superbabyfood

\

[canadiankorean]

Cloth diapers are also an option but require more work.
They also tend to save you money in the end apparently.

Diapereze offers cloth diapers (that is where I got mine).
There are cloth diaper services too that do the laundry part for you.

Washcloths can also be used as wipes.

Get a couple of high contrast toys (black and white patterns).
My baby girl was already looking and following the toy with her eyes right after birth. I didn't have any black and white toys so I printed out a lot of black and white patterns and had her follow them...

I had to buy saline nose drops to unclog her nose.
Dry air really builds up snot and makes it hard for the baby to breathe. I put saline drops in and waited 5 minutes before using the snot sucker to pull out a gigantic snot from her nostril..

[Carpe Diem]

You will be editing that title when you've had many sleepless nights and your up to your knees in $hit and puke!

It'll be "BooHoo"

[GunnerX]

A bumbo seat...I wish they were out there when mine were small!!

Have one for my daughter. She hated it. She prefers to stand and doesn't like to sit so it was used for maybe a total of 30mins.

[BlazinTrini]

Yeah we tried the bumbo seat for my son...was too confining for him and he didn't like it

[Whiplash7828]

Buy plenty of bibs
Buy plenty of full body pyjamas
Diaper champ is a champ!
Costco's Kirkland baby wipes are great!
Forget everything you read about babies!!!
If your baby gets colics, use ovol! worked miracles for us.
Have him study the Habs logo daily so he gets it engrained in his brain.
Enjoy every minute!

[bubble.tea]

....
Have him study the Habs logo daily so he gets it engrained in his brain.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/petawawa/smilies/hyper.gifhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/petawawa/smilies/hyper.gifhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/petawawa/smilies/hyper.gifhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/petawawa/smilies/hyper.gif


what if it's a 'her' http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/petawawa/smilies/ohnoes.gif

[skanji]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/petawawa/smilies/hyper.gifhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/petawawa/smilies/hyper.gifhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/petawawa/smilies/hyper.gifhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/petawawa/smilies/hyper.gif


what if it's a 'her' http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/petawawa/smilies/ohnoes.gif

it's a 'him'!

[patrob]

...Oh Diaper Genie or the likes is in my books a definite. Don't want to smell your house up, even though it is unavoidable. At least you minimize it....

Personally, we never used one & we had 3 babies in total:lol: See how you manage without one before you spend the money, unless you get one as a gift...used regular shopping bags from the store & did the same thing & was Free:D

[patrob]

...Buy plenty of full body pyjamas


When buying full body sleepers, don't buy the exact size your child is in, buy bigger so it will last you longer ;) & the ones with zippers are the most convenient - zip up quickly, especially at night when it's dark & you are looking for the buttons :D

[bubble.tea]

hey skanjii...you've got your work cut out for you.

I think you should start collecting ALL good suggestions, and updating your post #1. That way it's nice and cleanly ready for use instead of having to filter through all the other posts :cheesygri

[Drthorne]

don't forget diapers when you go to the hospital for the big day, they don't supply them

[nalababe]

While it was now three years ago, Woman's College had diapers that we used used throughout the stay. Again though, that was three years ago.

[Whiplash7828]

don't forget diapers when you go to the hospital for the big day, they don't supply them

they supplied them where we were (QC). Must be covered in our higher taxes! :D :D

[Kranberry]

While it was now three years ago, Woman's College had diapers that we used used throughout the stay. Again though, that was three years ago.

They don't supply diapers anymore. Some people were taking bags of them home after their stay. So they stopped that. Although they do have a kit they sell that has some diapers for your first weeks use. It includes other goodies as well, can't remember.

BTW, if you have your baby at Women's College, you are not really having your baby at Women's College anymore. It is now officially Sunnybrook Hospital, and even though Women's College separated, the Delivery Suite and such are now Sunnybrook, even though you are at Women's College physically. They are actually building new facilities at Sunnybrook and will be moving the entire unit to Sunnybrook in around 3-4 years. At that time, no more babies will be born at Women's College anymore.

[GunnerX]

Regarding the Costco Baby Wipes. They have changed it for the worse. Previously, they were soft and were identical to the Pampers sensitive. However, they have changed it and added a weave and is much more harsh. We bought a box and did not even use up half of a refill. My daughter started getting a rash and started crying whenever we were about to change her diaper. I immediately went to Wal Mart and bought Pampers sensitive wipes. A box of 6 refills is $14. That's all we use now. We have tried all the other "sensitive" wipes and they all sucked specially the ones from Huggies.

As for baby sleepers. Look at them carefully. I actually prefer the button ones as they are easier to put on. However, there are some zipper sleepers that are better than others. Most of the zipper sleepers have the zipper going from the neckline down to one leg. This makes it harder to put the baby's leg in on one side. Also, look for the sleepers with a button tab near the neck that covers the zipper. This prevents the zipper from flipping upwards and poking the baby's neck. I highly suggest going to Children's place and watch out for their sales. They have great prices on high quality sleepers.

[charliebrown]

they supplied them where we were (QC). Must be covered in our higher taxes! :D :D

North York General provided a couple of newborn diapers.

Bring pillows for the missus; and snacks while u wait through labour

<--- in keeping with the parenting theme, avatar updated :D

[akt921]

I suggest using vasaline on the baby's skin where it gets wet frequently i.e. diaper area, that will avoid diaper rash(trust me, baby will cry non-stop if he gets it so both you & the baby suffers).