Baby Best Practices and Supplies

Our run on list of useful supplies, tips and tricks!! Some relates to time saving tips, and several comments highlight our favorite products.

*We built out our baby registry with the help of the internet. We would look for TOP RATED items on Target, Amazon, and Babie-R-Us. We also leveraged Consumer Reports. We have been very satisfied with everything we've purchased. It was fun since we were able to do everything online... any day and any time. We didn't have to worry about going back and forth to the stores.
*We tried and reserved the first month for family visitors. That helped with the level of traffic to give us personal time with our baby. We also coordinated "open house" half days to allow blocks of time for friends to come by.
*In my 2nd trimester, I made a list of everything I think I would need for us and the baby's first 6 months. Two months prior to D-day, we cleaned out our baby registry and had every we could have purchased to help my recovery process. That was truly a time saver. It also eliminated a lot of back and forth to the stores. We kept receipts of everything. It also eliminated a lot of stress with logistics, since we didn't want to take a newborn out in public when we didn't have to. Simon could have ran some errands w/o me, but it was nice for him to focus his time on getting some shut eye or being a Daddy instead of being a errand boy!
*The Le Leche League (LLL) tanks work well to layer with sweaters, etc since they are thinner.
*The Fisher Price aquariums work very well as part of Sophia's nightly routine. It has water, floating bubbles, and music. We have one for daycare and one for her crib.
*During her naps, we place her in various spots with noise so she doesn't not become sensitive to TV/a crowd/music ,etc.. and it seems to have worked out well. She can sleep anywhere!
*With our Iphones, we have downloaded music, nursery lyrics, various visuals from free applications. This has helped up learn songs, lyrics, and keeps us mobile. We have also recorded the music from her Fisher Price aquarium. This will save us if she has trouble falling asleep when we are traveling.
*If you use a humidifier, ensure that it's a "cooling mist" one. I understand that the "warming mist" can cause ear infections.
*After we brought Sophia home, it was so helpful to have our family help cook meals and freeze meals for our future use. It enabled Daddy to take care of Mommy, in turn Mommy to be healthy to breastfeed Baby.
*Trial size anti-bacterial bottles have been handy in cars, baby bags, rooms, etc.
*Oxyclean detergent is awesome for poop stains!
*I love the Medella night nursing sleep bra. Comfy, functional, and supportive!
*The Comfy Kangaroo tank tops are cute and also very functional for nursing. They work well to wear as a single top.
*Look for manufacturers and sign up for free milk samples if you plan to use formula. Also, take advantage of the free samples from the hospital.
*Daycare supply labels. Cute, colorful, dishwasher and machine wash safe! http://www.mabel.ca
*Niki, our friend swears by the effectiveness of the automatic aspirator. The brand is BebeSounds. It's battery operated and easy to clean.
*We love using damp cotton balls instead of wash cloths for her adorable face. It's not as harsh and can hold more water.
*I use "My Brestfriend" pillow to help support that baby for nursing. To me, it's more firm than the Boppy. You can also walk with this pillow. Funny image, but very useful.
*Burp cloths (2 dozen or more) - we use a lot and have a lot in the laundry! We keep a few in each diaper bag, by the crib, by the bassinet, in the living room, and a couple in the car. You won't have time to run to a different room when accidents happen.
*Wash cloths(1 dozen) - We have a clean pile as her facial cloths and another pile at hand when we need to do spot cleaning for those blowouts. We also keep a few in each diaper bag.
*Simon has a diaper bag and I have another bag as backup.
*Diapers - We went through 5 newborn bags. Pampers run smaller than Huggies. Pampers seem to have softer material.
* Size 1 Diapers(1 to 2.5 months old) - We project to go through a total of 5-6 large bags of size 1 diapers.
* Size 2 Diapers(2.5 to 5 months old) - We also project to go through 6-7 large bags.
*The Graco light weight stroller is fabulous to use with the infant carrier. It is at least half the weight compared to the regular Graco stroller.
*We couldn't live w/o the changing table. It has spared our backs! If you change diapers on the bed or the floor, make use of a large beach towel for those crazy projections!!
*The mini carpet steamer has saved our carpet when we have projectile you know what!
*We require several blankets (5 or more) for different rooms, stroller, diaper bags, bassinet.
*Babies should not be moved into the "Big Kid" bed(removing rails and going to day bed) until they are 3 years old.
*Several (at least 3) washable changing pads (to protect the actual fitted cover) is a must have! It's cheaper than buying several fitted covers. The pads are also great to use when we want to air dry her(helps prevent rashes).
*We have cut up thick, disposable napkins and have using them to dab and wash her mouth after each feeding.