re: Preparing for Baby...what should I have?

What are the bare necessities? In a nutshell? So far I've come up with: shoe box for baby to sleep in, something to wrap baby in, something else to put on baby's head, small pair of socks, pack of diapers, my breasts.

We have been broke ever since I got pregnant, and only found the money for the consulate/ registrar's office fees to get married 6 months after testing positive. Respective families also penniless. I'm sure things will improve in time, but it looks as if she is going to arrive before any money does. Husband is currently struggling to arrange for a discount cesarean (yikes!), and I'm experimenting with shrinking my old pre-pregnancy clothes in the wash to see if they'll fit a newborn.

What are the things that she literally can't do without? Because if any of the websites are to be believed, we would have to sell my computer just to meet the first 10 items on the average must-have list.

Quoting tigrrboxer:“ What are the bare necessities? In a nutshell? So far I've come up with: shoe box for baby to sleep in, ... [snip!] ... websites are to be believed, we would have to sell my computer just to meet the first 10 items on the average must-have list.”

Wow! I am extremely befuddled by this one.

Quoting tigrrboxer:“ What are the bare necessities? In a nutshell? So far I've come up with: shoe box for baby to sleep in, ... [snip!] ... websites are to be believed, we would have to sell my computer just to meet the first 10 items on the average must-have list.”

I thought we were going to be that broke when I first found out I was pregnant - but since then have been very lucky and the husband is making more money and my parents are letting us live in their house for a bit to save money. But when I thought we were going to be DEAD BROKE I looked into the area pregnancy resource centers and there are SO many options for you!! They all have different progrmas - some just let you come in and go through the baby stuff they have and take what you need once a month - some have things where you go and sit through videos/classes/group sessionsand earn fake money to spend in their little shops. I recommend something like that for you.

Something that you MUST HAVE is a car seat - even if you plan to stay home with the baby all the time or borrow one if you need to go somewhere, I completely understand but they wont let you leave the hospital with the baby if you dont have a carseat. You could always borrow one for that, too but that is something else you can get from those resource centers. Let me know if you wany any more info on that kinda stuff. I wish you the best and hang in there chick! It will get better... the best thing about being at the bottom - you can ONLY go UP!!!

I just saw that you live in Turkey - Im not sure if they have anything like what I mentioned before over there... but I would def look into it!! Ask around - call pregnancy clinics - hospitals - places like that will know if and where you would be able to find such free or discounted items....

  Quoting Pandora667:“ For me a baby swing or vibrating chair is a must.”

i think your an idiot 

Quoting fergieresaz:“ i think your an idiot ”

What makes it okay for you to join today, make one post and say something nasty about someone else? Just a question

Quoting Mrs.Dani Is Having A Son:“ This isn't for when your baby comes, but while you're pregnant,go to Wal Mart and there's a small thing ... [snip!] ... and record it and email your baby's heartbeat to all your family! I found it to be the coolest thing I've bought so far!”

I got 1 of those but cant hear his heart beat yet. im only 6months. they say that i wont be able 2 hear it until 34 or 35 weeks

I thought that i had everything i needed for my son when he was born. I did not realize what i would need for myself. I had to make a stop at the drug store before i even got home from the hospital. I think this time i will make sure that i am stocked before hand. the hospital was pretty good about giving me stuff, but i still needed more.
like: motrin- safe for breastfeeding, pads, and tucks pads SAVED my life! they help for when you start itching after stiches. I went through 2 boxes of them.

My best friends baby is my judge of what is important...Number one is definatly the Jumparoo...she LOVES IT, cant get enough! And second...a Bumbo (one of those little seats) because babies that cant yet sit up on their own tend to get really frustrated, they so appreciate being able to sit up and interact with people...you can tell how independant and special they feel...a few rules though...make sure you're baby is a master of holding her head up before sitting her in a bumbo, also make sure the baby is never alone in her bumbo, and when the baby gets old and strong enough to be able to arch her back its time to retire the bumbo...though it may only get use for a few months, the baby really loves and appreciates the oppertunity to face the world eye to eye instead of only looking at the ground or you're boob! LOL!

One more item is a "baby safe Feeder" its a mesh bag attached to a handle that you put food items in for the baby to gum...I thought this was so cool i got it for all My friend's babies, it is especailly nice for teething time, you can fill it with youre choice of frozen fruits (though stay away from citrus as for the little bits of pulp that can dislodge as the fruit melts) Peaches are nice, grapes are PERFECT!! They freeze really fast and are a nice shape to roll around in there

Quoting Mrs.Steiner:“ you're not supposed to use baby wipes on newborns because of the chemicals and stuff, so some people ... [snip!] ... a wet washcloth until they are a little older, but Huggies and Pampers have sensitive wipes specifically made for newborns  ”

A friend of mine used a midwife and they reccomend using a wipe warmer to keep warm a mixture of Distilled water and a few drops (Just a few like 3) of lavander oil, you can get some baby washclothes and rewash them...ends up being SO much cheaper than wipes, and works just as well without the chemicals!

Quoting SuperAtHomeMama:“ My best friends baby is my judge of what is important...Number one is definatly the Jumparoo...she LOVES ... [snip!] ... loves and appreciates the oppertunity to face the world eye to eye instead of only looking at the ground or you're boob! LOL!”

andanother thing dont put it on a counter top use it on the floor!!

my b/f and i are buying all the big things first...we got a crib, mattress, stroller, carseat, and a swing and changetable/dresser. and about 300 toys her daddy bought for her. Next we're buying the rocker, and air purifier....and then all the small stuff, which is prolly gonnna cost as much once its all added up....clothes, bathtub, diapers, wipes, crib sheets, laundry hamper, blankets, towels, bath stuff, moniter, theres a bunch of small things that you dont even think of until your standing in the store and you think...hey i could use this...like a mesh net to put over the stroller so the bugs dont get them...i dont know just small things....i know there are a lot of pages online that give you a list of what you need, but some of those are writtenfor women who make 100,000 a year... but as someone said b4...the car-seat is a must...they wont let you leave the hospital without one...

Quoting JL:“ what should I get first?”

Here is a list of what I think is important to have - not all the cute cuddly stuff - this is more like a reality list... Best of luck!

1. an infant car seat
2. bottles
3. diapers
4. wipes
5. onesies
6. receiving blankets
7. sleep positioner to keep baby on its back when sleeping
8. bibs
9. digital thermometer
10. bassinet then crib
11. diaper rash cream
12. hospital should provide you with enough formula to get you home, then send someone to stock up for you at the store if not breastfeeding - powder cost less in the long run as you make what you need - 1 scoop per 2 ounces of room temp. water - i recommend keeping lots of bottled water in the house - you never have to heat the bottle and you make what you need.
13. lots of one piece creeper outfits - easy and affordable
14. any laundry detergent that says "free and clear of perfume and dyes" is appropriate and alot cheaper then Dreft - also works better!
15. swings and activity toys are something that you don't need right away, so economize by purchasing the neccessities first.
16. an infant bath tub - get one with the newborn sling included and make sure it can fit in your kitchen sink - alot easier to bathe baby that way and safer.
17. a stroller - you can get infant car seats and stroller combos for around $100 from target, kmart or babiesrus - you must get that car seat in order to leave the hospital with you new baby.
And constantly check your government recall website as baby items are always being recalled for one reason or another - best to be safe then sorry and always remember - BACK to SLEEP. Never put a baby on it's tummy when going to sleep!!!!!!
best of luck!

Quoting SuperAtHomeMama:“ One more item is a "baby safe Feeder" its a mesh bag attached to a handle that you put food items in ... [snip!] ... as the fruit melts) Peaches are nice, grapes are PERFECT!! They freeze really fast and are a nice shape to roll around in there”

Not cool once baby cuts first tooth - net can tear and pose a choking hazard in several different ways!