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Buying for Your New
Baby Without Breaking the Bank
by
Amanda
After my daughter was born, I sat down and
looked over all of the unnecessary and
unused items that I had accumulated during
my pregnancy. A baby "backpack" to carry my
child around in (turns out she absolutely
hated it), swaddling blankets that promised
that baby would be so comfortable that she
would sleep all night (which she still has
not) and many other items.
For reasons unknown, I purchased these items
because I thought they would make me a
better mother. Now that my daughter is older
and I have become a little wiser, I have
compiled a list of absolute necessities for
a new mom. Hopefully, this will help you
save time and cash when shopping for your
new baby.
Onesies (creepers)
Plain onesies are the best item of clothing
for baby. They are usually inexpensive so
you can buy a variety of sizes without
breaking the bank and they are comfortable
clothing for baby. Make sure that you
purchase the appropriate type depending on
the weather at the time your baby will be
born.
Pacifiers
I recommend purchasing a couple of different
types of pacifiers. See which ones your baby
prefers and then purchase more according to
baby's preference. Three to four pacifiers
are sufficient: one for the diaper bag, one
for the car and a couple in the house are
all you need.
Bottles
Some babies like a faster flow nipple when
others prefer a slow flow nipple. Purchase a
couple different types of nipples and see
which one your baby prefers. Also, I
recommend purchasing five to ten bottles so
you are not constantly washing bottles.
Diapers
I have found in talking with other new moms
that most babies fit comfortably in preemie
diapers for the first week or two after
being born. With this in mind, purchase one
package of preemie diapers and one package
of size one's. The selection of sizes will
keep you from having to run to the store to
buy the next size up or down in diapers.
Car Seat
Before purchasing a car seat be sure to
research safety and customer reviews for car
seats that you may purchase. Prepare a list
of reliable seats to bring with you when you
register for or buy the car seat.
Pants/shorts
If you are going to take your baby out of
the house, make sure that you have pants
and/or shorts (depending on the weather) to
properly cover up your child. I recommend at
least seven pair of pants/shorts for baby.
Socks
Socks are necessary to keep little feet
warm! Have seven pair of socks on hand so
you can limit doing your little one's
laundry to once a week.
Bassinet/Co Sleeper
Before baby is born discuss your sleeping
preferences with your partner. Some new
parents prefer co-sleepers while others
prefer cribs or bassinets. Be sure to
research your picks before purchasing or
registering.
A Few Toys
Have a few toys on hand such as rattles or
small toys with lights. These will help
develop your new baby's senses. However, do
not go overboard. Your baby will be more
interested in sleeping than playing so save
your money until baby is older.
Blankets
Someone told me that you can never have
enough blankets for your newborn and boy
were they right! Blankets get dirty fast so
make sure you have enough on hand. I would
recommend anywhere from 10-20 blankets for
baby in a variety of thicknesses and
textures.
Some optional items that I found useful are
as follows. Remember you do not need these
items for your baby but some people find
these things helpful.
Baby Swing
You may want to let your little one try a
swing before you buy it. Some babies don't
like swings!
Movies
Again, try one of these out before you buy a
whole set. Typically babies will not be
interested in made for baby movies until
they are three months old.
Diaper Bag
If you cannot afford a diaper bag in the
beginning, a large purse or even a grocery
bag can serve as a diaper bag in the
interim.
Stroller
If you do not plan on taking your baby out
very often or if you cannot afford a
stroller do not worry. Many stores offer
shopping carts with baby chairs or just
carry your baby when you bring baby out. If
you decide to purchase a stroller be sure to
research all of your options before you buy
one.
Amanda is a writer for The Craft Cafe
http://www.thecraftcafe.com. Find card
making, scrapbooking, free printable
projects, recipes and more at The Craft Cafe
http://www.thecraftcafe.com.
Article Source:
ArticlesOn.com |
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Having a Baby Soon? Need a Carseat?
By
David L Hoffman
So you are going to have a baby soon! It
is an exciting time, and you plan to spend
much money preparing for his or her arrival.
Comfy baby blankets, fancy baby cribs,
trendy baby clothes. They are all good, but
what about the car seat? Have you bought one
yet? Surprisingly, many expectant parents do
not put a lot of thoughts into the car seat.
Very often, they push the purchase to the
last minute. Yet it is one of the most
important items for your baby. We will show
you what you need to do to bring your
precious baby home safely.
1. Don't ever, ever buy a used child seat
You may see it on ebay, you may see it on
craigslist. The seller says the baby has
grown and will sell the carseat to you for
$20, with the extra latch base too! Well...
don't buy it! Don't even go buy used from a
store. The fact is that you do not know the
history of the seat; whether it has been in
a crash before. If it has, chances are that
this seat is structurally defective and
unsafe for your baby. It is not worth any
price to put your baby into danger, and
especially not worth it when a good child
seat can be had for as little as $80.
2. Don't spend a lot of money on car seat
Some parents like to spend, and that is
fine. But why spend more than necessary?
Child seat are not graded by how expensive
they are. They are graded by how well your
baby is protected. Spending a lot of money
on the seat, but not installing it properly
or strapping the baby in properly will not
do your baby any good. Do your research on
the quality and construction of a seat, and
compare different features. Buy for quality,
not for price.
3. Do buy a car seat at least 3 months in
advance
Typically, the 2nd trimester is the most
comfortable for expectant mothers. Use it!
Shop around and compare prices. Of course,
you can do the shopping online. But
realistically, don't you want to check out
what your baby will be riding in? Whether it
is comfortable? What materials and extras do
they come in? But there is a more important
reason for buying early: car seat check. The
seat check appointments are hard to come by,
and a typical wait is about one month.
Buying early will give you plenty of time to
schedule this appointment.
4. Do make an appointment for car seat
check
So you bought the seat, and you went
ahead and installed it... possibly without
even reading the installation guide. Guess
what? About 80-90% of the car seats in the
US are installed INCORRECTLY prior to a seat
check. Even if you have confidence in your
installation, it is still a good idea to
check it out. These car seat appointments
are hard to come by, and it's best to
schedule one early. Typical seat check
locations are highway patrol stations,
police departments, and some car dealers.
Call them and ask for an appointment.
5. Do learn how to strap your baby in the
car seat
Some parents think that once they get the
seat latch base installation checked, their
job is done. No, no, and no! The baby is
still strapped to the seat by you, and
proper strapping is essential to the correct
functioning of the entire baby car seat
system. So go, take a class, and learn how
to properly strap your baby to the seat. It
would be time and money well spent.
http://www.childseatcenter.com
Article Source:
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http://EzineArticles.com/?Having-a-Baby-Soon?-Need-a-Carseat?&id=761231
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