Shameless Survey
We’ve been told by family and friends that we shouldn’t be buying a lot of baby stuff this early because it is likely that we will be receiving many gifts especially when the baby comes. While we want to heed their advice, my fingers do not seem to cooperate. I’ve been surfing sites on baby stuff that we’ll need and gee, my eyes just want to pop-out with all the nice-to-haves!
Hubs and I started window shopping on my 4th month at Suntec mall and before we even drove there, I told hubs to remind me not to buy immediately. We’re eyeing a wooden crib, a car seat and a stroller. I was taken aback seeing an Italian made crib worth over 1,000 Singapore dollars! But really, it was lovely. If only our baby can sleep on it ’til she reach her teens. Ha ha. Now that I’m on my 5th month, I still feel that it’s too early to start the baby purchases. So, hubs and I agreed that we’ll wait ’til we reach the 6th month coz it’s just about the best time.
Now, comes the shameless survey. He he. To the moms or moms-to-be out there, would you be kind to throw in some tips on the must-haves for our little angel? There are just too many new gadgets and interesting nursery furnitures out there. So, in as much as we want to buy the basics, we don’t want to miss out on anything that will be really useful to the baby and parents to be!
Please feel free to post your suggestions/comments/advice on the comment box. Our little angel sends her big kisses in advance!
1. Crib
2. Car seat
3. Stroller
4. Baby carrier
5. Bottle sterilizer
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Here’s a shot of the very first set of infant wear we got. My aunt who works in a US base commissary in Japan sent us these as they were on sale! Cute no?
And, my in-laws who are now in Philly, US sent us photos of baby carriers and car seats they saw at a store there, which they said they will gladly purchase for their apo. Sweet!
hi tin! wow exciting! shopping!
alam mo, yan yung hindi ko naranasan during my pregnancy with ninna. si hubby ang nag-shopping dahil bedrested ako, huhuhu. anyway, since then, i’ve been doing my baby shopping vicariously through my friends. so heto, shameless din ang aking recommendations, hahaha!
stroller: get one that is super light. preferably, one that’s less than 16 lbs, and something that folds/unfolds really easily. don’t make the mistake that i did when we bought this giant SUV of a stroller. stable nga siya pero halos matastas ang aking C-Section stitches every time i try to load it in the car, hehehe.
car seat/carrier: usually tandem na ang car seat with the stroller. if not, i suggest that you still get a car seat. it’s for your baby’s safety, as well as a good reprieve for your arms when you’re travelling long distances.
crib: we didn’t get the wooden crib kind anymore. we got one of those graco pack n’play ones, instead. kasi it converts from an infant crib to a playpen for when your baby grows up to become a toddler. you get lots of mileage out of it, plus its pretty mobile kaya you can take it with you when you travel. also, most pack n’ plays have a changing area attachment that goes with it, so tipid ka na rin from purchasing a separate changing table. pero if you really want to purchase a wood crib, get one wherein yung slats are spaced in such a way na hindi delikado na maipit ang ulo at arms ni baby.
other stuff to get are: bathtub, a swing and/or a bouncer (believe me, nakakatulong!), a good big diaper bag (with a design that both you and hubby can live with hehehe. imagine your hubby lugging along a winnie the pooh bag?? ewan ko lang kung carry niya, pero ang asawa ko isang malaking “never” hehehe), a good and comfy breast pump for you (if you plan to BF), around 6-8 pcs of 4oz bottles (muna, since babies don’t eat more than that amount naman as infants. later ka na lang buy nung 10 oz bottles), bottle brush, drying rack, formula dispenser (if youre going to use formula), soft towels and bath cloths, swaddling blankets, lots of onesies, burp cloths, a baby monitor (if your nursery is far from your room), a reliable thermometer, mittens and socks, beddings, a musical mobile (to stimulate the baby), an infant mirror (cute kasi aliw ang baby looking at her own reflection), a grooming kit (particularly with hair brush, nail clippers & nasal aspirator), and laundry detergent specifically for babies kasi Tide Ultra can give your babies rashes (kami, we use Dreft).
that’s all i can think of for now, but if you have other questions i’d be more than glad to help you out
have fun shopping 
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hi mama mee: thanks a looooot! i added all your tips to my ‘what to buy’ spreadsheet! sobrang grateful ako sa mga mommy tips. i like your suggestion to buy a car seat & carrier in one tsaka about pack n play. we’ll go for that na. medyo limited pa rin kasi choices dito sa sing. either US or pinas mas madami. thanks ulit!!
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nasabi na yata ni meeya lahat, hehe… comment ko lang, while it seems logical to get a baby bed/crib, think it over muna whether you’ll co-sleep or not. we had a crib, but was hardly used since i breastfed and co-sleeping became more convenient. sayang yung $1,000 if you spend it on something that’s not gonna be useful naman pala.
clothes, do not buy a lot of the small sizes. aside from the gifts, you’ll never know how big the baby will be and how fast he/she’ll grow out of them. get a few of the next sizes na rin…
if you’re the crafty type, you might also want to start working ony your baby announcements, or even thank you cards. you won’t have so much time when the baby’s there na.
exciting, no?
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hi ruth: ay, no plans to spend that much for a crib. just want to make sure that we have everything we need and siguro konting ‘wants’ na rin for the baby. hehe.
after the first tri blues came the excitement. gusto ko tuloy kumanta ng “a whole new world..” hahaha. looking forward to see the fruit of our labor! thanks!
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basta ang masasabi ko lang, shopping (and walking) is a form of exercise for a pregnant woman so go go go! hahaha!
take care.
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hi gigi: baby’s getting heavier by the day. yung walking exercise ko limited to going around the condo area pag weekends and going around sa office pag weekdays. pero im sure i’ll have the extra energy to shop! haha. take care, too!
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hi tin! here’s more:
:: going-home outfit - para cute sya pag-uwi ;D
:: cotton balls - i used wet cotton balls to clean estong’s pwet pag nag-poop
:: baby wipes - when we’re out naman
:: alcohol - nag-a-alcohol muna kami when we hold estong during the first few months
:: spray bottle/water spritzer - basta yung plastic bottle na may spray. nandun yung water ko na pang-linis pag nag-wiwi at nag-poop
:: lots of tissue for drying after linisan ang pwet ;D pwede din towel, kaso dagdag lalabahan pa hehe
:: maternity napkins for you
:: i use separate palanggana for washing baby clothes, i use perla, not sure kung meron sa sg
:: i use a different dishwashing liquid for the bottles, matapang kasi yung usual na joy or axion. i use paos, recommended by some n@wies
:: baby clothes hamper - i bought lang a small plastic basket to hold his used clothes
:: baby hangers - for baby clothes, kung gusto mo langna naka-hang yung mga clothes nya pang-alis
:: baby cabinet - kasi wala ng space sa cabinet namin for his things
:: playpen - we’re using playpen instead of crib, mas gamit sya ngayon kasi toddler na sya, pero first few months, co-sleeping sya. lately lang namin nagamit ulit yung playpen. mas ok din ang playpen lalo na kung malikot sya. kasi baka mauntog-untog sya sa crib
:: baby book - i have one, kaso di ko na na-update, i-scrap mo na lang ;D
:: log book/diary/planner - i record all his feedings, poop, weewee, temp & meds if he’s sick, activities (like pag lumabas) or kahit ano. i did this religiously for a year. tapos nung nag-sosolids na sya, nila-log ko din ang kinakain nya baka kasi may allergy sya, pero ngayon, i stop na. laki na sya e. helpful sya when he was a baby kasi may babalikan ka, let’s say magkasakit sya or mamomonitor mo yung milk intake saka pag-poo.
:: cotton buds
:: diaper rash creme
:: soap na pangligo (cetaphyl, etc)
:: we bought a separate kuluan ng water for him
:: diaper pail
:: i bought (recently lang) a stand, 4 layers sya with wheels, dun nakalagay yung mga things nya, bottles, milk, tissue, alcohol, toys, diapers, basta lahat ng madalas gamitin. madali lang dalhin kasi itutulak pag halimbawa nasa sala kami. when he was smaller kasi, dinadala ko pa isa-isa yung mga things nya pag sa sala kami tumatambay.
yun lang muna
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hi alpha: thanks a bunch! i have them all in my ‘to buy’ spreadsheet along with the others’ tips. grabe, thanks for sharing the little details kasi mas madali yun makalimutan e. i like the stand with wheels, naisip ko nga na i can’t be dragging baby’s stuff coming from the nursery to our bedroom to the living room! tsaka yung bottle spray to clean baby’s bum lalo na when out of the house, sobrang helpful yun! baka di enough ang wipes di ba? thanks ulit!
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excited na ang mommy to be! hehehe!
if you are planning to breastfeed, you need a pump and breastfeeding accessories.
and tama family mo when they told you not to buy so many baby clothes and toys. baby grows fast during their first few months. maiiwan lang ibang clothes. TRUST ME. i have experienced it first-hand.
stick to the basic necessities and easy essentials (for diaper-changing, milk feeding and baby hygeine).
a crib with a diaper changing table is so useful. wooden crib - nice sya pero ingat sa bukol. hehe! we got the pack and play din. you can bring it anywhere, and it adjusts to a growing child (upper bassinet can be taken out when baby grows older so you).
stroller/car seat - wait until your baby shower is finished! we got ours as a gift!
and of course! don’t forget the scrapbook/baby book!
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hi emi: i’ve been warned, too about buying too many baby clothes. kaya talagang ma-cover ko lang yung basics okay na. concerned lang ako ma-complete yung necessities talaga lalo na i won’t be that mobile after delivery. lam mo na, iba rin situation not having your full support system around although im sure there will be family coming over still.
i never thought of the ‘bukol’ part. my nephew and niece used parang play pen, not sure if it’s the pack n play thing kaya siguro we’ll go for that instead of the wooden crib. cute lang kasi e. haha!
sana maka-digi scrap pa rin ako after delivery. we’re bracing ourselves with the busyness of parenthood towards end of the year! thanks for the tips!
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hi tin, naku exciting talaga to shop for baby things. you will never run out of things that you want to buy. nasabi na naman nila kung ano yung mga basics and i agree with ruth na decide niyo muna if you will co-sleep or not before buying a crib. kami we bought a graco pack n play before and we mostly got to use it for changing his diaper, kasi e ended up co-sleeping with us.
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hi mich: di pa namin naiisip yung co-sleeping, siguro when the time comes kung saan mas convenient. although ideally, parang gusto ko kasama sa room pero nasa crib. sobrang curious na ko sa pack n play na yan ha. sa next window shopping ulit! thanks for the tips!
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wow, all set ka na nga! take care always tin!
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di pa, tito owen. we haven’t started shopping though gustong-gusto ko na! ingat rin lagi!
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One thing i really wanted to buy was this Diaper bin/sanitizer. It keeps the dirty diapers inside and keeps the stink and whatever germs and bacteria INSIDE.
it’s quite expensive and i didn’t find anything here in the Philippines. But it’s going to help you a lot. It’ll seal each diaper in a separate bag.
everything else they said i agree.. i used cloth diapers the first month or so except at nights to avoid rashes, i know you have to do laundry every now and then but it’s more healthy for baby’s bum bum
we also used PERLA for washing baby’s clothes to avoid allergies. and we used Lactacyd for giving him baths
baby formula/milk dispenser and diaper bag complete with changing mat, etc.
as for the stroller, i suggest the graco types (complete with car seat/carrier). yes they are kinda bulky, but from infancy to about 8months, you’ll need it. it feels safer =) then when your kid becomes a toddler, you can just buy the cheaper and lightweight strollers that are literally just for strolling or sleeping.
enjoy mommy-hood! =D
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hi hazel: i saw that diaper bin with sanitizer, it’s soooo cool! ang mahal ha pero worth considering since it saves you time cleaning up after removing the dirty diaper. we’re looking at two brands for stroller/car seat, gracco and maclaren. though US lang yata may maclaren e. thanks a bunch for the tips!
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To add to what has been listed so far…
I’m not sure what to call it but you could buy a big sponge (found in baby stores, usually shaped like a bear) where you rest the baby while she is in the infant tub. This is helpful for bathing her. Safe and soft.
If you’re buying a breast pump, go for the battery-operated. I used the manual kind at first and ended up with tendonitis and had to be on cast. Imagine not being able to hold the babe in her early days! Waah.
If you’re buying a bottle sterilizer and bottles, go for the microwaveable kind. Believe me it’s quicker to sterilize using that.
And while you’re angel is still inside your tummy, buy a smart baby classical cd, the pieces of Mozart, Pachelbel and Vivaldi. You could both listen to it now. It aids in her brain development and helps in calming her.
Isip pa ako ulit. 13y, 9y and 2y 4m na babies ko eh.
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hi linnor: thanks for the tips! i went window shopping for a pump and found out how expensive the battery-operated kind is! yung medela brand ba yun. but i heard some good reviews about it baka sa pinas na kami bumili. i like your suggestion to buy microwaveable bottles.
i’ve been listening to classical music when baby hit the 5th month. pareho kami ni hubs inaantok, i hope it works for baby! thanks ulit!
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ah, pahabol! books! although the ‘rents are always just a phone call away, i’ve found “what to expect the first year” very helpful. if you’ll breastfeed, the best among the books i tried was “dr. sear’s breastfeeding book”.
one more tip when shopping: you don’t have to have EVERYTHING naman before the baby comes. sometimes, it even makes sense to wait til the baby is there na and buy as needed. yun lang muangn basics you need to make sure you’ve got covered.
hay, katuwa!
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hi ruth: thanks for the tips! i might grab a copy of dr sear’s bf book. to tell you the truth, i’m more worried about breastfeeding than labor! hay i hope it will not be that hard. i agree, basics lang talaga dapat for now. and yes, excited rin ako to shop for baby!
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looks like the baby is a girl!
well, i don’t think i need to add more since a bunch of commenters have already listed ‘em all.
for sure you will be set and more than ready by the time the angel arrives.
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hi evi: yep, we’re expecting a girl! i really hope i’d have everything prepared by the time she comes.
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tin, dalang-dala ako sa excitement mo! baka mamaya nito pati ako humingi ng beybi hahaha
*justice hits head* boingk!
yung tip ni meeya na carseat/carrier…that’s the first thing you’ll need talaga. the crib can wait since you’ll have to know kung gusto mong lumaki sa kama mo yung baby. well, that’s what we did with all our kids kasi. from birth til around almost 2 years, nasa bed namin.
excellent babybag! yung madaming pockets PERO easy to locate the stuff you need. may mga bags kasi na sa laki and dami ng pockets, kakatarantang maghanap.
am so excited for you!
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oo nga no, crib can wait kahit after delivery. sige, we’ll keep that in mind.
about the babybag, i need to buy that with hubs, baka pink shade mabili ko e hindi nya buhatin. hahaha.
if your 4th baby will be as cute and smart and well-bred as your 3 kids now, aba, go go go justice!
thanks for the tips!
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wow….a girl! ano ba yan, trend na sa noisy girls?!?! hehehe. any names na?
anyway…dami na nila sinabi. ako, just last piece of advices…don’t buy anything only for their aesthetic purposes…agree ako kay mama meeya, it’s more of the function and mileage that should count. marami magbibigay rin sayo ng mga damit, so you don’t have to worry about that….at girl pa, talagang maloloka ang family & friends mo sa pags-shop ng kikay baby clothes. shucks, ayan, umaandar na ang imagination ko on what i should get her for christmas!
btw, are u still up for a few more maternity blouses? Jonet still wants to dispose of them. let me know.
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hi jojo dear: oo nga, let’s see if M will complete the set of girls! yup, we have two names in mind.
yeah, ayoko rin maraming tambak sa house. just the thought of adding a lot of baby stuff in the house parang gusto ko na maghanap ng new place with bigger space! haha. agree, pag nagw window shop ako, i get excited just looking at the cute baby wear available! magsasawa sa pink ang baby2be namin. hehe.
sige pls if you can, padala na lang ng clothes when we meet this weekend. sana lang walang ribbon and bib in front, discounted ba? hehe.
see you!
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it’s soo hard not to buy cute little baby things, no? try not to be tempted though and don’t go overboard w/ the clothes. we didn’t have to buy a lot of stuff since we got the necessities as gifts during our baby shower. all you have to do is register for them. i highly recommend (although i see otherse have already suggested it):
1. a travel system –the car seat latches on to the stroller. i have the britax companion (britaxusa.com). it’s very handy and not bulky.
2. changing table
3. diaper pail
4. breast pump if you are going to breastfeed. they are expensive here but worth the investment.
5. baby bathtub
6. baby detergent like ‘dreft’ or ‘ivory’ (and wash all the baby clothes beforehand)
7. a pack-n-play: very handy. i have one downstairs, and we have a real crib in his nursery.
8. sterilizer: not an actual essential but handier than having to boil all that stuff
9. a bouncy seat or swing seat
i got all my stuff during my 8th month! and the baby came 2 weeks early and everything. we haven’t even gotten his room ready nor had i even packed for the hospital. so get your nursery done by the 8th month at the very latest! hahah….
and feel free to holler for any advice! congrats on the BABY GIRL!
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i’m now browsing britaxusa.com. thanks for the link! i’ll ask my aunt to get the dreft detergent for us so we can try that, good thing it’s cheap to mail stuff from US to SG. i don’t think we’ll scrimp on the breastpump, i’m sure it will be a challenge to express milk while at work so reward ko na to get a good and battery-operated bp!
wow, 2 weeks early! yan, i’m more inspired to complete my shopping before november. ayoko rin ma-harass e. thanks a bunch!
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p.s. just to let you know, i haven’t even started scrapbooking and my kid’s already 5+ months old! i plan to do it once he starts daycare and i have a week before work starts! although in the philippines, i’m sure they have yayas to help out right?
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it sounds like you’ll be very busy with scrapping on your final week! i’m looking forward to see them on your blog! i know, all the more that we miss the luxuries that we have in the phils.
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A Radio or is it a walkie-talkie for the baby? I dont know what to call it basta it’s something like that para you’ll be able to hear the baby pag wala ka sa tabi n’ya.
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hi lynn: i agree, important nga sya lalo na if baby’s sleeping and you’re doing household chores! sige, that’s one on our list. thanks!!
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hi tin, meron pack n play sa the first few years, taka and robinsons.
i am not sure if your family practice using manzanilla and alcamporado. yung manzanilla for the baby’s tummy then yung alcamporado is for the back and chest para di malamigan daw.
i also buy gauze for cleaning the baby’s tounge and gums. kasi di pa naman sila tinutoothbrush. binibili ko yung precut na 100pcs sa guardian.
we use pigeon bottle cleanser. pati yung pigeon detergent ok naman pero 1st 6 months ko lang ginamit dun sa 2nd baby ko, after nun nag Fab na rin sya di naman nagrashes.
if you don’t have one yet, you might want to get a thermometer.
attend ba kayo nung prenatal class at tmc?
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hi salme: thanks so much for the tips! i saw this kit, sort of a first aid kit for babies, may pang blow ng clogged nose (di ko sure yung tawag) tsaka thermometer. familiar ako with mancanilla, para daw sa kabag ng bata, i think sa pinas lang yata meron nun e.
we’ll go to taka this weekend. pag may nakita kaming p&p, siguro bibili na kami from there.
we’re thinking if we’ll get the complete course sa tmc or we’ll just select the prenatal classes that we want. we have to book soon kasi daw depende pa sa batch yun. haay, lahat rush na no? hehe.
thanks again!!
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dont forget to take pics of the baby’s hands, fingers and toes…the ears and nose…how lovely to capture them on their first days…and soon find out that in a week or two, they grew bigger kaagad…
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hi master: yup, magsasawa si baby2be sa mga baby pics nya. oo nga e, bilis rin talaga lumaki ng mga bata. sana you and mitzi will be in pinas sometime early jan next yr. take care!
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shucks, nalula ako sa number of things you supposedly need
anyway, if you’re planning on breastfeeding, i’d get one or two of those support-pillows thingie for your arm-elbow… para nde ka syado ngalay and yet you’re still holding your precious
i know na it must be really hard to be practical since super excited kayo
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hi mec: yup, ngayon pa lang mas minahal ko lalo ang nanay ko! haha. realizing what mothers/dads go through to ensure their kids get only the best, nakaka overwhelm rin talaga. about bf, i saw that support pillow pero you have to be bf-ing on the floor so you can use that. not sure if it’s good for the mom’s back though.. we’ll see. thanks for the tip!
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a new angel for you!Ü
i’d say a baby bag…. to put all those baby stuff. hehe.
happy wednesday sweetie!
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hi russie: yup, miracle talaga sya, a gift.
hope i could find that ‘ideal’ baby bag! hehe. enjoy the rest of the week! 
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Hi Mommy Tin! Topher co-sleeps with us so we never got to use his crib. Pang-display lang. and he doesn’t like to be confined in his pack n play so naging toy storage lang sya.:)
A nice and comfortable glider/ rocker would be one of my suggestions. Sobrang helpful sa pagbre-breastfeed and pagpapatulog. Enjoy shopping and always take good care of yourself and the baby!
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Hi Christine,
I was bloghopping looking for Pinoy recipes and got to marikit.net and eventually got to your page- I realized, kilala ko si Ronald from IEC. Small world.
Congratulations on your pregnancy.
I just gave birth to a baby boy last April and a few of the must-haves for me would be
(1) rocker glider - for when you’re breastfeeding. expect to be virtually attached to this chair during the 1st few weeks
(2) boppy pillow - bf-ing pillow that you can use with your rocker-glider
(3) carseat - i’ll give you the websites that i browsed through before making a decision on our carseat,
http://www.aap.org/family/carseatguide.htm
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/
http://www.consumerreports.org
- i eventually settled for a graco safeseat because it goes up to 30lbs and 30in, which would serve us well judging from the rate of growth of my baby
(4)a baby carrier - we have a baby bjorn, which i’m not a big fan of because madali mangawit ang back ko with it. i really like maya wrap ring sling because it’s so much more comfortable sa back (mayawrap.com)
(5) diapers - cloth diapering is so much easier with the new contoured pocket cloth diapers. a bit pricey but very well worth it because it’s so much gentler on our boy. fuzzi bunz and mommy’s touch are the ones i have.
(6) baby monitor
*if you’re breastfeeding
(7) nursing bra
(8) nursing pads - Lansinoh cotton pads or Lanacare wool pad
(9) Lansinoh lanolin - lifesaver during the first few weeks of nursing
(10) Electric breastpump - i rarely use mine but it’s proven to be (again) a lifesaver when i was having breastfeeding issues
(11) kellymom.com is a good bf’ing resource on the web
Right now, we’re using our crib as a changing table because we co-sleep. Our crib though, converts to a toddler bed so hopefully he’ll get to use it eventually.
Hope you enjoy your pregnancy!
Rinna
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hi, there! congratulations, btw! not sure if you want to breastfeed (most moms these days are not as enthusiastic about it) but in any case, here’s yet another tip that i’ve given to so many expecting moms regarding breastfeeding.
i breastfed my 4 yr old son exclusively (meaning no formula) during the first 13.5 months of his life and then continued until he was 3.5 yrs old! contrary to popular belief, breastfeeding is not a natural instinct which is why many moms have not been successful. frustration is the main culprit why moms give up. therefore, it is a must that you go to a breastfeeding class before you give birth. and please remember that there is no such thing as not producing enough milk because breastfeeding follows the theory of supply and demand.
also, invest in a hospital-grade pump (i used the Medela Pump In Style) which is pricey (and the best in the market) but will allow you to become successful in breastfeeding (pumping two breasts at the same time!) why? one, it allows you to express milk so that your hubby can take part in the feeding/bonding process. and, if you have a slow feeder like my son who nursed for 2 hours at a time, it allowed me to have a break instead of sitting all day long just to nurse. two, it allows you to produce more milk (when my son hit 13 months, i still had 6 months worth of milk in the freezer!) remember, supply and demand.
if you go to a breastfeeding class, you will learn that babies who nurse do not have to be burped! why? because they do not ingest any air from the mom’s breast at all. with this knowledge, i slept and breastfed at the same time, therefore allowing us both to rest and sleep throught the night (i did the side sleeping position that i learned in the class and didn’t have to get up to burp the baby at all!)
lastly, another good investment to add to your growing list: Vaseline! use after every diaper change (pee and/or poo) to prevent diaper rash. (apply liberally, front and back).
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Do you have Babies”R”Us in Singapore? Look for Infant-To-Toddler Rocker. I highly recommend it.
hi inna: thanks a bunch! we’re still hunting for a nice rocker for baby. we’ll check out babis ‘r’ us!
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