You need more then just love. You need Pampers, too.

Jude is now a month old. In that time, I have gone through some of the biggest ups and downs of my life. I don't think that there is anything more frustrating and rewarding as a newborn. I'm learning as I go along. Learning how he likes to go to sleep, what he does when he's hungry, and something that has taken a bit longer, what supplies I need.

A friend and fellow blogger ( http://katesmakinbabies.blogspot.com/ ) Kate said in one of her posts that she doesn't quite yet feel ready to buy baby things, and I felt the same way when I was pregnant. I felt this way because I have no idea what babies need. I relied on my showers and parental advice to equip me for what I'd need. Now that I've had a month to get to know a newborn and what they need, I have a list for anyone to look at, and for me to remember when I have another baby a few years down the line. (Obviously, each baby is different and you need to specify to what your baby needs and wants. This is just what has been working for Jude and me.)

I had several different kinds of diapers to try out from various shower gifts, including Luvs, Huggies, Pampers, and Parent's Choice (Walmart brand). I have been trying to find the cheapest, best brands out of everything to buy, so I was glad that I disliked Luvs and Huggies. (Both leaked out of the side.) I loved Pampers, and liked Parent's Choice. I decided to go with Parent's Choice, but found out that they also leak from the side, and they aren't as comfortable as Pampers. I decided to spend the extra money for dry clothes and a more comfortable baby. Pampers win. I buy 100 at a time. (The normal kind, not the new Swaddlers brand they have for sensitive baby butts.)

Since Jude is not picky about wipes, I go with Parent's Choice. I buy 3 packages at a time.

With all of the wonderful contributors at my baby showers, I had about 50 newborn onesies. They say that you cannot have too many onesies, but I think that they're wrong. Especially when he outgrew the NB size and had to start wearing the 0-3 size in about a week after birth. I didn't even use half of them. Not only that, but I only had about 10 0-3 onesies. After doing laundry every other day for a couple weeks, and sometimes having to squeeze him back into the NB onesies because he'd spit up, had a blow out, and urinated on every clean 0-3 onesie that I had, I bought a few more cheap ones at Walmart. Onesies are almost disposable. Unless you get some nice ones bought for or handed down to you, do not invest in designer onesies. (If you do, despite my advice, go for The Children's Place and Calvin Klein onesies. So comfortable and durable!)

Car seat, stroller, and Bjorn were all given to me from moms who no longer need them. You need the first two, but I seriously advise investing or finding someone to donate to you a Bjorn. So much easier to carry around a baby in a Bjorn then in a car seat. Car seats are heavy, bulky, and although the safest thing ever, very inconvenient. Carrying baby in the Bjorn is almost like being pregnant again. Kind of heavy and after awhile of walking around your back hurts, but Jude sleeps the entire time when I'm shopping. Win.

Mechanical swing! Also had this donated to me, and could not love it more. For instance, right now he is dozing in it while I type on the computer and eat lunch. He would not be dozing in his crib, car seat, or even in my arms. He wants to be in the swing. Worth it.

Cutesie clothes. Not practical, but worth it for those get togethers when you want to dress up nice and you want him to dress up nice. (Bring a couple onesies for when he ruins his outfit, which he will, but the entrance is the important part.) They're fun and great for pictures. Only problem is that they aren't comfy. If baby seems more fussy than usual, go ahead and put him back in the onesie.

My NB bath tub is nice... but not what I what I expected it to be. Sure, it fits in a double kitchen sink, recycles the water the entire time, and tells me the temp, but it doesn't support his body at all and washing him is a constant struggle. Also, it's huge. I have no place for it. Perhaps go with a less complicated bath and make sure it has some sort of body support.

Blankets! When I started buying baby blankets, I was looking at the super comfortable, puffy, snuggle blankets. Unfortunately, they're too thick to swaddle the baby with, and generally too warm to use. They also don't absorb liquids well. (When you're feeding your baby and some milk comes out of his mouth, you'll grab the nearest thing to you to wipe his face.) So what blankets do I use over and over again? The 4 flannel blankets that came in a package. Light weight, absorbent, swaddle-able, and cheap. Like onesies. I bought 4 more.

Towels and washcloths. Towels for baths and washcloths for everything. But, buy big towels. Right now all I have are the infant towels and they're cute and have a little hood, but they barely cover all of him after the bath, and babies almost always scream after baths because they're cold. (Note to self: Buy bigger, softer towels when you have a chance.)

A few other things that have truly saved my sanity?
Boppys (Especially if you're breastfeeding!). Get two, and 4 different Boppy covers.
http://www.amazon.com/Boppy-Expandable-Miracle-Middle-Pillow/dp/B000KW5I6E
Bottle drying rack and bottle cleaner. Believe me, you won't have time to wash them in the dishwasher.
Diaper changing pads. (For those spills and random pee moments while changing the diaper.)
Different kinds of bottles and nipples to decide what you like. (I go with Avent and Soothie brand. Same with pacifiers.) At least 4 pacifiers and 8 bottles. Yummy smelling Johnson's baby wash and lotion. (Cucumber melon for day time and Lavender for night time :D) I at first went with Aveeno, but I don't like the smell and it doesn't seem to be any more soothing and soft.
Diaper trash that has the flip opening to lock the diapers (and smell) in it. ( http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Trend-Diaper-Champ-Blue/dp/B000CCEWBY )
Butt Paste. Funny name, seriously great at treating and preventing diaper rash. ( http://www.amazon.com/Boudreauxs-Butt-Paste/dp/B0006OG6RQ )
A good monitor.
Mylicon. ( http://www.mylicon.com/ ) Why is he screaming? Sometimes a fed, changed, burped, healthy, cuddled, and comfortable baby will scream. In those times, I use Mylicon in case it's gas. Babies love the taste and it works.
Nail clippers.
A good nose aspirator.
A couple infant toys that rattle, bzzzzz, crinkle, and have a bunch of colors. Put these in his mouth, in his hands, and teach him all the new sensations with them.
A large and fully stocked diaper bag. I at first had this super cute one that my sister in law got me, but it was too small for normal use. I went to Baby's R Us and bought this http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3199293 . Has a huge compartment for just about anything, an insulated part for a bottle, and several smaller compartments for things like pacifiers, cell phones, and anything else. I rarely ever use a purse now. Plus, when Scott uses it he won't look like he's carrying a purse. I'm sure this makes him happy :)
Wipe warmer. Babies hate cold butts and nothing turns a night feeding more unpleasant then a screaming baby while you're changing him. (Ok, maybe not nothing, but you get the idea.)



A few things that didn't work for me?
Pee pee teepee. http://www.bebabean.com/product/pptp/index.aspx Cute idea (put it on a little boy's penis while changing him to make sure you don't get peed on) but you still get peed on. Instead, do a few quick flips with the diaper to make sure he at least pees down.
A crib moving picture thing. Like a mobile but it hangs on the side and looks like a jungle or an ocean and it has nature sounds and moving colors. He did not care about it and preferred a non moving colorful mobile that I made myself. http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2265070&CAWELAID=107513638 .
Blankets made for swaddling. http://www.mypreciouskid.com/swaddle-blanket-sleep-sack.html Have the nurses teach you how to do an actual swaddle with a blanket instead. Cheaper and the babies are used to it when they leave the hospital.
Towel robe. Adorable, but not practical. He wants to be warm and wrapped up, not clothed. http://www.babyearth.com/under-the-nile-organics-terry-bath-robe.html

I'm sure I could keep going on both, but I've covered quite a bit. I'm glad i have this to look back on, and hopefully other moms will chime in and new moms might get something from it. :)