Here's the thing(s)

A former colleague posted on Facebook today asking about the "things you couldn't live without" as a new mother.  I can't believe I've never posted about this, though I'm sure I sent such an email to a friend during her pregnancy, so now I will blog it here in response to anyone else who cares to know down the road.  I'll pick five:

1. A wrap/baby carrier.  There are lots of warning out there against using slings (though many women love them and don't deem them at all unsafe if used correctly), but I opted for a Moby wrap and the Ergo Baby Carrier.  I used the Moby more when he was really little as, even with the infant insert, I didn't feel as secure with him the carrier.  Once he could be upright in the carrier, I used that all the time.  I would put him in it to take the dog out to the park, to carry him on the bus or the El, or even around the house if he was fussy and I wanted to do dishes or fold laundry.  Once he got bigger, I started using it on my back and found that useful, too, though it took some work to get the hang of putting him on by myself on back.  We have one of the backpacks that can be used with still larger kids for hiking and the like, but for the money, I liked these.

2.  An Exersaucer.  I didn't get a bouncy seat or a swing or any of those types of contraptions (though I used them gladly as a nanny and babysitter for some kids who loved them).  I did get a play mat that he used for maybe 4-6 weeks and a doorway jumper (I know, I know) that he never got the hang of.  But the thing that he seemed to love and really saved me was the Exersaucer.  I probably put him in it too early (his toes hardly touched the bottom), but he was even then happy to be upright, able to spin some to watch the dog, and interested in the toys and mirror.  As he grew, he loved to be in it to watch everything going on, and he interacted with the toys more and more.  I was able to get household chores done or even a little schoolwork while he played happily in it.  We definitely used it for months.  It is big and very much a kid item that takes up space in your grown-up room, but it was worth it for us.

3. A jogging stroller.  I looked and shopped a lot for our stroller, but we eventually decided to shell out the money for a Bob with the smaller wheels.  We used it mostly with his car seat when he was smaller, but he continues to fit in it really well now as a big kid and has room to grow.  I might not have liked it as much if I'd been living in the suburbs and always got in the car to go places, and I did and do use a $15 umbrella stroller now if I'm shopping (only because it's easier to navigate through aisles in store), but it's really nice if you're someone who likes to walk.  Now I use it to push Oliver to daycare on campus and walk him and/or the dog to the playground down the street or up near campus. 

4.  Sleeping sacks.  I remember putting some of my charges in Halo sacks when they were little.  I don't know how, but when Ollie was a newborn I discovered these and got two because it was, well, winter in Chicago.  We only stopped using them when he outgrew the smallest size around 6-7 months, and it was summer and we were moving south, so we didn't get the bigger size.  Oliver never kept a blanket on him, so these kept him warm enough and were still easy to change his diaper in when he was up several times a night.  I've given them since as gifts, and people seem to like them.

5.  A hands-free breast pump.  I wanted to breast feed for a year (and did!), but I knew I was going to work and wanted to be able to give him a bottle if I wanted or needed to, so a breast pump was a necessity for me.  Once again, I shopped around, and this was one of the things I spent some money on.  I got the Medela Freestyle pump, which can be rigged up so you can pump hands-free.  And I did -- while I returned emails, did dishes, or read in the book closet attached to my classroom (hoping people would heed the sign on the door and knock before entering).  I used this thing a lot and never had any problems.  I could attach a nipple straight to the bottle I pumped into or put it in a bottle or freezer bag (stockpile!).  This thing, for all women gripe about it and talk about how it's not actually breastfeeding, made that one-year goal reachable for me and Oliver.

Bonus Item (Hey, I made the rules): Co-sleeper.  I used this thing a lot.  I got it more to be able to nurse and soothe without getting out of bed, since I was working when Oliver was a newborn, but I ended up loving that he was in the room with us.  I would probably leave another kid in it a little longer (we ended up having to revert to it when he hit his four-month sleep regression), and now that we have a downstairs master, it would make a big difference.  I'm all for putting kids in the crib to nap, learning to let themselves self-soothe a little (which you tend not to do when they're bedside), and transitioning them sooner than later, but I enjoyed co-sleeping and would never have done it had it meant having the baby in bed with us.

The small things: Baby Bjorn bibs (for once baby's eating solids), Tiny Love mobile, Aveda bottles

Travel Tips

Wes and I are taking our first trip with the baby next week, and already my mind is spinning with what all we'll need to take with us now that we have a baby on board. We're flying and staying in a hotel, so we won't have the amenities of a house. Tell me moms, what are the important things to take when traveling? We're using disposables instead of cloth for the trip. I'm nursing, and we're taking my pump with me since we have to leave Ollie one night for a dinner out. We can't decide if we should take our car seat and stroller or rent a car with a car seat and just use the sling/carrier for getting around.

Suggestions are most welcome!

So what am I forgetting?

As the due date for the baby gets closer (still a long 9 weeks away, we hope), I'm starting to wonder what I'm forgetting. As far as the stuff goes, I mean. I've spent months now websurfing baby stuff, having a marvelous time doing so, and yet I'm convinced that in my lists of lists, I've forgotten things. Like it occured to me today that we need some bathroom cabinet type stuff -- the itty-bitty nail clippers and suction ball and random stuff like that.

So tell me, people, what am I forgetting?

Stuff for the Thing

Wes and I went out with a bunch of his colleagues last night, many of whom were hearing for the first time that we're expecting. People seem real excited for us -- especially those who heard me talk previously about wanting to start a family -- and tickled by the idea of Wes becoming a father. One great thing I've found about finally telling people is that I now have veteran parents whom I can poll for advice on baby purchases. There's so much stuff out there, and while Wes and I are both pretty anti-stuff, there are some basic necessities plus the kinds of things that make life easier that we'll be purchasing between now and September. Right now I'm searching online, reading product reviews, making lists. We'll wait a bit before going out to see and try anything out in person before buying, but I'm a planner and well, I don't mind this bit either. So here's my request. If you ever read this blog (since I'm finding every day that there are a lot of old friends lurking), have a kid, and have an opinion on any of the following items, please email me or post a comment with your endorsements.

1. Stroller. What we need: one stroller that can accomodate an infant through toddler, handle the wear and tear of city living and walks along the lakefront, push comfortably for people who are 5' 4" and 5' 11", and ideally, not cost more than 2 months worth of a car payment (read: I love the Bugaboo, too, but is it really worth it). What we don't want: a crappy piece of plastic that won't survive the wind or snow or sidewalks, even if it is cheap, or a "travel system" since we don't have a car.
2. Cloth Diapers. What we need to know: which brand to go with. There are a lot out there, and I think I prefer the pocket diapers. FuzziBunz and BumGenius seem to be my top two picks, and while I like the idea of a "one size" purchase with BumGenius, I'm also skeptical that is can really fit a child in that age and weight range.
3. Bouncy seat or swing. What we need to know: one, both, neither? We don't have a big space here, folks.
4. Sling or carrier. What we need to know: one, both? And for the carrier, has anyone tried the Ergo Baby Carrier?
5. Co-sleeper. What we wonder: All the older moms and dads warn against the baby sleeping in the room, but lots of younger ones, especially working moms, seem to like the convenience for a few months to help with nursing. I know the product that's most popular, but lots of people say, "The baby just ended up with us anyway." Any experiences out there?

I know there's tons of opinions and reviews online, and I'm finding them, but it's nice to have suggestions from people whom we know and who know us.