re: To Buy, or Not to buy...that is the question.

Quoting SophieGirl65:" I'm still on the fence of disposible diapers! I know it've good for the enviorment but I'm just worried ... [snip!] ... washing and how to get my husband on board. He is already nervous about changing diapers as it is. Any good ones out there??"

I'm assuming you're talking about Disposables vs. Cloth Diapers? They make so many different kinds that it's hard not to find the perfect fit for you. My husband was not so sure about cleaning out Cloths, but once a friend of mine showed him how easy it was he was 100% on board. We've been cloth diapering now for just about 6 months now and we spent $400 on cloth diapering supplies. I spent that on stocking up on diapers before my first was born! I was averaging anywhere from $50-$90 a month as a newborn, just on diapers. Then as he got older it was from $40-$60 on diapers. The best part is everything I have for baby #1 can be used on baby #2 right from birth! Saving over $1,000 in diapers from Birth to Potty Trained.

I love my angel care monitor's my best friends little boy stopped breathing in the middle of the night to the point where paramedics had to come revive the baby if it was not for that monitors they said it would of been too late. this is something i give now at every baby show i hope no one ever has to go through what my best friend did but i love the company for this product hope this help's.

I personally dont like the bassinet mattresses at all! I mean, maybe its the bassinets I saw at BRU, but they were horrible mattresses! I didn't even buy a crib either. I just used the bassinet that came with my stroller, put in a proper mattress for sleeping, used that for six months, then I bought a Pack n Play, and put in a Coconut Fibre crib mattress in there. My son sleeps in there fine, and the mattress is nice and firm! I just find spending SO much money on baby things a waste, it's better to save that for their college!

Quoting s.daud:" I personally dont like the bassinet mattresses at all! I mean, maybe its the bassinets I saw at BRU, ... [snip!] ... is nice and firm! I just find spending SO much money on baby things a waste, it's better to save that for their college!"

I bought a yard of fabric and pulled apart my body pillow and created a little
pillow top for the bassinet mattress because I didn't find it to be a nice mattress at all. When I put on the cover it was just right for soft and firm. He slept wonderfully after that.

Quoting Wife & Mama:" I bought a yard of fabric and pulled apart my body pillow and created a little pillow top for the bassinet ... [snip!] ... it to be a nice mattress at all. When I put on the cover it was just right for soft and firm. He slept wonderfully after that."

well the mattress that came with the bassinet of my stroller wasnt so great either, so I just ordered a whole new mattress fit perfectly for it, cost me like 12 €, which is like $15...not too bad...the mattress was great though...

With my first, I used the bassinet for a while, until she could roll over and starting to sit up. Then, I put two side rails end to end on the twin bed which was placed up against a wall, and that is where she has slept since!

Quoting whatsername80:" Hehe (: Thought it might be helpful...especially since I have a question already!! Whats everyones opinions ... [snip!] ... I've heard that they're really good from some people, and then from other people that they're a waste of time and money..."

Hi, I think diaper genies r great but if you r on a limited budget you can just put then in old Wal-mart bags before you put them in the trash.

well we have a barrel outside our house, and i just throw them directly in there in a small garbage bag...

Quoting DoveloSono:" How about those travel systems (stroller/car seat)...? How long does the baby actually get to sit in ... [snip!] ... actually get to sit in the car seat before she is too big? Are they actually worth the money? Should I just buy separates?"

I had a travel system for my 1st baby & wouldn't raise another one without it! They are awesome! You dont have to wake a sleeping baby getting him/her out of the car seat everytime you need to go to the store, etc. Just snap the carseat off the base & snap it into the stroller! So easy! Most of them go up to about 20 lbs and by then baby can sit up on his/her own in the stroller itself so converting to a reg. carseat is not a hassle by then. Highly recommended!

evenflo newborn car seat? not sure if its good or not saw so many mixed reviews online but somehow had a high rating. id feel better getting some REAL feedback on it lol. and what would be the best type of rocking chair to get?

Quoting MSMOMMY85:" GENE BABIES R FOR LAZY PEOPLE OTHER THAN THAT A WASTE OF MONEY AND TIME I HAD ONE AND NEVER USED IT"

exactly. I think their gross whats wrong with walking it to the dumpster i would rather have it smell like baby powder and lotion than stinky diapers. im sure my daughter likes it to  

Quoting whatsername80:" Hehe (: Thought it might be helpful...especially since I have a question already!! Whats everyones opinions ... [snip!] ... I've heard that they're really good from some people, and then from other people that they're a waste of time and money..."

I never had one and we were fine without it, but I have heard they are great.

Quoting DoveloSono:" How about those travel systems (stroller/car seat)...? How long does the baby actually get to sit in ... [snip!] ... actually get to sit in the car seat before she is too big? Are they actually worth the money? Should I just buy separates?"

I got a travel system with my first baby and it was great. She was only 7 pounds and she didn't even reach 25 pounds until now and she is 2. The car seats in the travel systems are just like a standard car seat. It will fit your baby up to 22 pounds and 29 inches long. Plus, it is cheaper to buy them together then separate. I recommend Graco brand. I used the car seat hooked on the stroller up until she was about 9 months and then I would just put her in the stroller without the car seat. Also, if you plan on having other kids, maybe get a neutral colored one. Ours is all pink and now we are having a boy so we need to get a new car seat.

I just wanted to add some insight on what I used for my first baby and what I wish I had done differently.

1. The travel system was great. I got a Graco travel system for only $150. It comes with the base for the car seat that you can leave in the car and the car seat can lock onto a shopping cart. I used my travel system quite often. My baby was smaller so she didn't actually grow out of the car seat for a while. We did turn it front facing when she hit 20 pounds (which was after a year), but now the recommendation is to keep it rear facing until they are 2 because in an accident they will not get as many injuries. The stroller was great even as she got bigger. I enjoy going places like the fair, the farmer's market, the festival of the trees....places where there is a lot of walking around and you need a stroller.
I wish I had gotten a neutral color though. Mine was all pink and now we are having a boy so we need a new car seat and a double stroller.

2. I loved the excer-saucer. She played in it all the time when she didn't want to lay down.

3. The vibrating chair/bouncer chair was amazing. A lot of nights she slept in it because she was more comfortable in it than the bassinet.

4. A crib...she didn't use it until about 3 months old, but she used one and it was great. We just had a hand me down and it worked.

5. Swaddle blankets: My baby girl loved to be swaddled and only slept good if she was swaddled super tight.

6: A swing: She didn't use it a whole lot, but she would sleep in it some nights and it really helped us a lot.

7. Pack and play: It's great for going on trips or even just putting her to bed at a friends house while we stayed late playing games.

Things I wish I had:

-A carrier for her because there were times she just wanted to be close, but I needed to clean around the house. The carrier would have been great. I am excited I got one for our new baby on the way.

Things I didn't ever get/need:

1. A diaper genie: We never got one and I wasn't worried about it. I just put the diaper in a grocery bag and took it out to the garbage.

2. A changing table: We just used a changing table pad and put a cover on it. Then we put that on her long dresser and it worked great. We got the dresser at the D.I. for only $35 and I painted it. The changing table pad was only $20. We only spent around $60 instead of $100+ for an actual changing table.

3. A play mat: We had one, but most of the time she played on a blanket with toys.

4. A bassinet: We had one, but she preferred her vibrating chair instead. She really liked the vibrations.

That's pretty much it. Now, I'm not telling you to get a vibrating chair instead of a bassinet because all babies are different and your baby may be more comfortable in a bassinet. This is just from my experience with my baby. You may need to get everything because it works est for you. Have fun preparing!!!