Big love to Sears Canada in my final Sears Mom post inspired by the Newborn Nesting event that’s on right now. (Buy what you need anyway and get free money. Score!)
My first-born baby is turning eight years old this week. Eight! That’s a whole two-term presidency. That’s high school twice over. That’s one drawn out university undergrad *cough*. It’s a big number, is what I’m saying, considering I can picture his newborn sleepers and the little striped baby hats like they’re right here in front of me. (Don’t ask me what he wore yesterday, though.)
At the same time, my third and last-born baby is now two-and-a-half, pretty much toilet trained and beyond ready to bust out of her crib. I’m getting ready to break down the last of the baby gear and nursery supplies and give a weepy kiss good-bye to an era. Of course I’m nostalgic! And I keep looking back on what I did the first, second and third time and stupid thoughts like, “If I ever have another,” or, “Next time I’d …” keep popping into my head.
I do hate to waste hard-earned knowledge. But let me save myself some time, money and heartache and just share what I’ve learned about babies with you instead. So much easier!
1. You do need a crib.
This probably sounds obvious, but I know many co-sleeping families who swear that they never used their crib. They say it was a waste of money and space since the baby always slept with them. If that works for you, that’s fantastic. But I do think those people are in the minority. And I also don’t know how you can know that will work for you before you try it. For me, even when I was pretty much co-sleeping most nights, I’d still put my babies down in their cribs in the evening before I went to bed myself and for naps. Having a safe and secure place for my baby to sleep when I couldn’t be with it was definitely essential for me. Also, get the biggest, deepest crib you can find and you can keep your kid in it for three years. Best thing I ever did.
2. A change table is really, really nice to have.
We were living in a one bedroom apartment when my son was born and I didn’t want to bother with anything extra. We set up a changing station on a spare table at first and then just used the bed, the couch, the floor or whatever other surface presented itself. It was fine. But for baby number two I decided to buy a table specifically for changing the baby and it rocked. It helped keep all the diaper changing supplies from cloning themselves and setting up colonies all over the house. And then, for baby number three, the change table became a special little oasis where I could escape with just her and finally give her all the coos and kisses in the world without being interrupted every ten seconds.
3. I never had a diaper genie.
A diaper what? I can just imagine my parents doubling over with laughter at the thought of it. I’m the oldest of four and I’d changed my fair share of diapers before ever becoming a mother and we certainly didn’t need to hermetically seal each and every diaper. Here’s what you do. Get any old garbage can with a lid. Line it with a plastic bag. Put your diapers in there. When baby starts eating solids, scrape their poop into the toilet first which is what you’re supposed to do anyway. You are about to becoming intimately familiar with somebody else’s fecal matter. You might as well embrace it.
4. Your hands are natures wipe warmers.
Wipe warmers are on every list of ridiculous baby products. They seem so over-the-top. And they are. But that’s not to say that a cold wet wipe is nice on a delicate baby’s bum either. If it’s cold in the room, just take minute to hold the wipe in your hand to take the edge of the chill. Easy peasy and also comes in travel size!
5. You won’t regret a really good rocker.
I get a gushy just thinking about breastfeeding and cuddling a newborn in a rocker. I logged a lot of warm and fuzzy hours gently rocking to and fro. I think it’s just as soothing for a frazzled parent as it is for a baby, to tell you the truth. It beats the hell out of that twitchy baby jiggle some people swear by, if you ask me. The rocker doesn’t have to be in the nursery either; it can be in the living room. I had it both ways. Think about where you’re going to want to be spending a lot of time with your baby. Reading a book and singing lullabies in a quiet room away from the hubbub of a busy house? Or closer to the TV, kitchen, bathroom and the rest of your thing? Both are legit.
Clearly this is just what worked for me. Your mileage may vary. Readers, I know you have opinions. Fill my comments with your wisdom.
The one thing we can all pretty much agree on, though, is free money.
So check it out. The Newborn Nesting event at Sears (on from April 18 to May 1) earns you a cash card when you shop for nursery furniture, baby gear and infant fashions in the Baby’s Room. Spend $200-$299.99 and get a $25 cash card; $300-$399.99 and get a $50 cash card; or $400 or more $100 cash card. The offer is valid both in stores and on sears.ca and the cash cards are redeemable May 2 – 21st. That’s a seriously sweet deal if you’re in the market for baby gear.
Disclosure: I am part of the Sears Mom Ambassador program with Mom Central Canada and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with
this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.