Getting Started
First time around we all tend to buy way too much “stuff” to have at our fingertips in our homes. Probably we are thinking primarily about making it easier for our children to visit with the new baby—the fewer things to tote, the more likely they might be to visit. This thinking can result in way too much spent on things that have a very short use cycle (unless you anticipate storing it somewhere in your house in between births), and are not necessary. What follows are some suggestions (open to editorial comment by all readers!) of the things I have found both useful and comforting to me when the newborns-18 months come calling.
At some point you will need a crib, but not before the baby is at least 3-6 months old. A porta crib which collapses and can be stored in a closet is your best bet. Most infants sleep in their “buckets” or on top of a big bed, surrounded by pillows. Really, they do not move much besides their eyelids and arms at first, and certainly cannot crawl or even wiggle their way off even a twin bed for several weeks. I found a porta crib at the school yard sale; it was almost brand new (owner said she’d used it twice, and it looked it), and I paid $7 for it. It has been used for 7 of the 9 grandkids (it took me awhile to get this smart), and still hardly looks used. You need a sheet for the mattress (try Target or WalMart for inexpensive accoutrements), and a soft blanket. I also bought inexpensive crib, mattress and high chair because I did not want to use items that other children might have chewed or drooled or spit up upon…… call me anal, but I just had an aversion to even the idea…..
Another thing I found very nice to have (and you just need the parents to have this and bring it with them!) is a vibrating infant seat. The motion is almost fool proof in getting even the crankiest infant to sleep. The new swings (again, not necessary, but hopefully parents have one at their house for when you visit them) do not make awful, jarring noises when you wind them…. actually, you don’t wind them because they run on batteries! But you do need someplace to safely put the child when she/he is awake once significant moving is occurring. We have an exer-saucer, purchased at a second hand store and washed with boiling water. Now these “saucers” come in a wide range of sophistication, from the bare bones model to the type with all the bells and whistles. I was feeling badly that we’d purchased a minimalist version until I heard a pediatrician on NPR stating that until he had his own child, he didn’t realize what a bad idea it is to have all those distractions in one place. In fact, he was going to test his theory that it is exactly things like this that foster ADD! Of course I then felt totally affirmed in my (thrifty) decision!
The whole issue of a pacifier can be daunting. Some new parents take an oath of sorts that their new child will never, ever use one. Happily mine did not…..it is worth every penny you spend on it (actually, them, because you need back up!). One problem is the sheer number of choices of styles, make and model, etc. Have you visited the floss aisle lately? You’d best know exactly what you want when you are looking, or you will be totally overwhelmed by the choices. The same is true of pacifiers (aka “binkies” or “plugs”). They are age specific, type specific, and come in a large range of colors and brands. You can easily spend 20 minutes just looking at the display. But when the chips are down and the baby is displaying lung power greater than you’d ever imagined, this little item can be a lifesaver. You can also buy a device that clips onto the baby’s clothing and has the pacifier attached at the other end so it is less likely to get lost, but never leave that on the baby when she/he is sleeping in a place out of your sight.
You will also need a small stash of diapers, but here again the choices are many, and some brands are an anathema to the parents। You can’t miss with a big name brand unless it is environmentally unsound, and you can often find coupons for significant money off. Store and discount brands often do not hold up (literally), and you don’t want to be responsible for the soggy, smelly mess that ensues if it lets go. A small tube of ointment and a small package of wipes complete the care for this aspect. Early on, one of our children had a heated wipe warmer on the dressing table, and I thought to myself (rare that I did not express this thought, but also serendipitous!), how frivolous can you be??? I love them! When the baby wakes in the night, (or even in the day if you keep your house cooler now due to rising oil prices!), the warm wipe does not jar the child awake ….no icy application to sensitive areas….just soothing warmth…॥maybe we should create a similar product for adults, especially those of us “of a certain age”……
First time around we all tend to buy way too much “stuff” to have at our fingertips in our homes. Probably we are thinking primarily about making it easier for our children to visit with the new baby—the fewer things to tote, the more likely they might be to visit. This thinking can result in way too much spent on things that have a very short use cycle (unless you anticipate storing it somewhere in your house in between births), and are not necessary. What follows are some suggestions (open to editorial comment by all readers!) of the things I have found both useful and comforting to me when the newborns-18 months come calling.
At some point you will need a crib, but not before the baby is at least 3-6 months old. A porta crib which collapses and can be stored in a closet is your best bet. Most infants sleep in their “buckets” or on top of a big bed, surrounded by pillows. Really, they do not move much besides their eyelids and arms at first, and certainly cannot crawl or even wiggle their way off even a twin bed for several weeks. I found a porta crib at the school yard sale; it was almost brand new (owner said she’d used it twice, and it looked it), and I paid $7 for it. It has been used for 7 of the 9 grandkids (it took me awhile to get this smart), and still hardly looks used. You need a sheet for the mattress (try Target or WalMart for inexpensive accoutrements), and a soft blanket. I also bought inexpensive crib, mattress and high chair because I did not want to use items that other children might have chewed or drooled or spit up upon…… call me anal, but I just had an aversion to even the idea…..
Another thing I found very nice to have (and you just need the parents to have this and bring it with them!) is a vibrating infant seat. The motion is almost fool proof in getting even the crankiest infant to sleep. The new swings (again, not necessary, but hopefully parents have one at their house for when you visit them) do not make awful, jarring noises when you wind them…. actually, you don’t wind them because they run on batteries! But you do need someplace to safely put the child when she/he is awake once significant moving is occurring. We have an exer-saucer, purchased at a second hand store and washed with boiling water. Now these “saucers” come in a wide range of sophistication, from the bare bones model to the type with all the bells and whistles. I was feeling badly that we’d purchased a minimalist version until I heard a pediatrician on NPR stating that until he had his own child, he didn’t realize what a bad idea it is to have all those distractions in one place. In fact, he was going to test his theory that it is exactly things like this that foster ADD! Of course I then felt totally affirmed in my (thrifty) decision!
The whole issue of a pacifier can be daunting. Some new parents take an oath of sorts that their new child will never, ever use one. Happily mine did not…..it is worth every penny you spend on it (actually, them, because you need back up!). One problem is the sheer number of choices of styles, make and model, etc. Have you visited the floss aisle lately? You’d best know exactly what you want when you are looking, or you will be totally overwhelmed by the choices. The same is true of pacifiers (aka “binkies” or “plugs”). They are age specific, type specific, and come in a large range of colors and brands. You can easily spend 20 minutes just looking at the display. But when the chips are down and the baby is displaying lung power greater than you’d ever imagined, this little item can be a lifesaver. You can also buy a device that clips onto the baby’s clothing and has the pacifier attached at the other end so it is less likely to get lost, but never leave that on the baby when she/he is sleeping in a place out of your sight.
You will also need a small stash of diapers, but here again the choices are many, and some brands are an anathema to the parents। You can’t miss with a big name brand unless it is environmentally unsound, and you can often find coupons for significant money off. Store and discount brands often do not hold up (literally), and you don’t want to be responsible for the soggy, smelly mess that ensues if it lets go. A small tube of ointment and a small package of wipes complete the care for this aspect. Early on, one of our children had a heated wipe warmer on the dressing table, and I thought to myself (rare that I did not express this thought, but also serendipitous!), how frivolous can you be??? I love them! When the baby wakes in the night, (or even in the day if you keep your house cooler now due to rising oil prices!), the warm wipe does not jar the child awake ….no icy application to sensitive areas….just soothing warmth…॥maybe we should create a similar product for adults, especially those of us “of a certain age”……
For infants, then, you need a pacifier, a bed upon which the baby can sleep, some wipes, diapers and ointment, maybe a soft blanket, but not much else. If you live in an area where the climate is conducive to walking, by all means get a stroller. Most of them recline so you don’t have to have a separate “carriage” in which the infant lies down and a stroller for sitting up. There are so many choices here that my only suggestions are to check Consumer Reports for safety ratings and ask other grandparents what they have used. Because we have twins, we have used a double stroller…..not a bad idea even for singles, as you can put purchases, library books, snacks, etc., in the other seat. Jogging strollers are incredibly lightweight and easy to push, but very expensive brand-new. Double strollers come in two styles: back-to-back and side-by-side. I prefer the back –to-back for sturdiness and visibility (mine) but the side-by-side umbrollers are very easy to manipulate, particularly in smaller places.
Soon I will post again with more tips for things you will need or want to have as the baby grows and develops. This should get you started.
Tip #15: Remember that you are at a stage in your life when you should be thinking of downsizing, and you do not need to add to the junk you’ve already accumulated. Plus you could use that money to get a massage or go to a movie to decompress once the baby departs…..one of the greatest benefits of grandparenthood is that he/she will eventually go home and leave you to your peace and quiet to recover for the next round. And you will so very much appreciate the interlude…..
1 comment:
The very simple tub sling may be the best thing going for bathing at the grandparent's house. Easily stored and allows for 1 handed bathing. It costs about $15 and can fit safely in the linen cupboard.
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