Monday, January 7, 2013

What To Get For The First Year Of Parenthood

My friends are at the age where they are all starting to have kids, and occasionally, someone will ask me the most useful things I've come across.

Below, I am recommending necessities, and not just things you need to add to your registry.

If you are planning to breastfeed:

  • Get a pump. If you are planning on returning to work, a double breastpump will probably be more convenient. Pumping isn't fun, but it's cheaper than formula. 
  • Invest in bottles and breastmilk bags so you can freeze your milk for later use. Milk can remain in the freezer for several months, and if you have a lot of milk, you'll want to pump out the milk rather than deal with the discomfort of remaining engorged. Also, you should get your baby used to drinking from a bottle after the first few weeks, so that if you want to, you can hand off the baby to someone else to get fed. 
  • Breastfeeding covers are nice, but not a necessity. Generally you can just cover up with a jacket, or just go into a different room to breastfeed. As your child gets older, they won't tolerate the cover as well.
  • Get washable nursing pads because your boobs will leak milk. And that would be pretty embarrassing if you're presenting something at a meeting, wouldn't it?
  • Lanolin is a godsend for chafing nipples. All that sucking will dry your skin out. 

Oh, and if breastfeeding doesn't end up working out? Don't worry about it. Seriously...your kid's not going to remember whether or not you breastfed them, they are not going to suffer ill health effects from the formula you give them, and you don't get a prize for breastfeeding the longest. It's just a method of feeding your kid. Your sanity, and your baby actually getting fed, is more important than the act of breastfeeding.

Medical:


Note: Whenever you can, just buy the generic brand of medicine. You'll save money, and the products all have the same active ingredients anyway.

  • Bulb syringe aspirator - We got multiples of these, because the ones we purchased that weren't this specific one were terrible. They split, and didn't work, and wasted my money. This is the same as the one we got from the hospital, which worked like a charm. Warning: it takes a few times to get this right, and your baby isn't going to like it. One of our friends preferred the Nosefrida, but we drew the line at sucking snot out of our baby.
  • Infant acetaminophen - Although you cannot use this the first few months, it will come in handy whenever the baby gets miserable with fever or a cold.
  • Children's Benadryl - This is used to treat allergic reactions. Honestly, it's been more used than the acetaminophen, mostly because our baby seems to be really sensitive to some food products.
  • Boogie wipes - Ok, so they are a bit overpriced, but they're basically saline wipes that gently wipe your baby's nose. Better than plain tissue, which can get stuck on a baby's face.
  • Saline solution - For loosening up the boogies inside a child's nostrils.
  • Hydrocortisone cream - Useful for eczema patches that just won't go away, or heat rashes.
  • Eczema cream - Eczema is common in babies. I like the Aveeno brand one.
  • Sunscreen - Technically, you aren't supposed to put sunscreen on a baby unless it's at least six months. But if you live in an area like Los Angeles, like I do, it's kind of hard not to just go ahead and do it. Sunscreens come in different forms - stick, lotion, spray, etc. I've found the stick to be pretty convenient, but the sprays seem to provide the most coverage. Don't forget to cover the neck area, especially in the back.
  • Diaper rash cream - You may have to try a few different brands before you settle on something you like. I have tried Aquaphor (also useful for dry skin), Triple Paste, and Desitin (the purple one, which has fewer ingredients). They all work equally well. 
  • Humidifier - The first cold your child gets, your pediatrician will recommend a humidifier to make it easier for your child to breathe. We use it every night these days; it comes in handy especially in the winter. 

Nice but not necessary:

  • A white noise machine - This may end up being a necessity. Only you can tell for sure. If a house is too quiet, the baby will be awakened by any noise. The first few months are a very confusing time for the baby, and the white noise will remind the baby of being in the uterus. 
  • Itzbeen Pocket Nanny - This one was a lifesaver for us in the first few months. You can use this to track the last time your child has eaten, slept, or been changed. 
  • Combine Amazon Mom with Amazon Prime with Subscribe & Save. You'll get Amazon Prime for free for the first three months of your Amazon Mom membership, along with a 20% discount on diapers and wipes subscriptions, and other discounts as well. Amazon Prime gives you free two-day shipping, access to instant streaming via Amazon Instant Video, and access to the Kindle Lending Library with no due dates. You can use the Subscribe and Save option to buy necessities like diapers and wipes at a discounted rate. Then you can spend less time in the Babies R Us store.
  • Rewards"R"Us - This is the rewards card for Toys R Us/Babies R Us. You're likely to get a lot of Babies R Us gift cards, so this is a useful place to spend those gift cards. You might as well reap the rewards, too. You'll get discounts in the mail and in your inbox, and occasionally, a few dollars discount off major purchases.