Conference moira::parenting

    Re-1
    
    I've been wondering if the combination products (carset/stroller,
    highchair / baby seat) wear quicker. I was thinking that by taking
    the seat in and out all the time the connection would wear quicker than
    a traditional product. Have you had any problem with this or noticed
    any wearing?
    
                                                Alice

    
    Do you get tired of your kids complaining that the water temp of their
    bath is too hot/cold, when it feels fine to you??
    
    Just a little thing, but has added a LOT of peace to our household ...
    I believe it's made by First Years (or maybe Safety 1st), is a bathtub
    thermometer.  I've seen them shaped like a duck or a tugboat (we have
    the tugboat).  It floats in the tub, but on the bottom is a strip that
    tells you the temp of the water.  They're ~$3-$4.00, but are WELL worth
    it!  Now when I run the bath I KNOW that the temp is okay for the kids,
    and don't have to wonder.
    
    I got mine at a local drugstore, but have also seen them at Wal-Mart.
    It makes a cute tub-toy too!  For some unknown reason it ONLY works in
    water.  It works w/ reasonable success for a shower, if you lay it on
    the bottom of the tub where the water hits (but can be a safety hazard
    at that point (-:
    
    Normal bath temp is ~98-100 degrees ( it'd be nice if they said that on
    the package).
    
    

    Things which I got my money's worth:
    
    Lamby - lambskin baby rug.  As infants I used it as a nice soft
    place nfor them to lay/sit and play.  My olders son still  uses it
    as a soft place to sit and read.  Washes up great in the machine (air
    dry) and looks practically new.  When they were tiny, we brought it
    with us everywhere because we always new we'd have a soft cleans place
    for the baby to sleep or play.
    
    Fisher Price Activity links.  This is the gym/bar type toy that you
    set an infant under to play with toys suspended from it. The nice
    feature with this one is that the links come off and toys can be
    rearranged.  I had a whole basket of toys that I could connect to
    it.  More interesting for baby.
    
    
    Flannel crib sheets.  
    
    
    Good quality umbrella stroller
    
    baby monitors.  We still use one for our 3.5 year old.
    
    DUPLO, books, brio trains, any kind of ball
    
    Porta-crib
    
    
    
    
    Things I shouldn't have bought:
    
    Infant swing.  My kids hated it.
    
    playpen.  ditto
    
    sassy thermal bottle warmer.  Wide mouth thermos of hot water worked
    better and could be used more than once.
    
    traditional diaper bag.  They fall apart.  We replaced it with a good
    quality backpack that has lots of pockets.
    
    Cozy coupe.  My son never plays with it although most do.
    
    Toy box.  toys get piled in and lost in the abyss.
    
    Down crib comforter.  I never felt safe putting it over the
    babies.  I seemed to puffy.  I liked the knit or flannel type blankets
    layered better.
    
    Infant toys.  They were never really interested in anything too
    babyish.  They preferred the soft soccer balls, books, toy cordless
    phones.
    
    
    I'm sure there are many others.	
    
    
    			Mary
    
     

    Here's some stuff that worked for us:
    
    Graco Pack & Play portacrib - not much bigger than a large duffle bag, 
    allowing it to go just about anywhere. (ours has 'flown' over 5000
    miles). Sets up in <1 minute, and still holding up after 5 yrs, 2 kids
    plus an occasional loan-out.
    
    F-P Highchair - again, still in good shape after 5 yrs, 2 kids plus
    loaners.
    
    Century Infant car seat - with extra base gave us great flexibility in 
    transporting the kids, especially to/from daycare.
    
    Playschool monitor - still in use after 5+ years.
    
    Snuggli portable bottle warmer - plastic bag full of some type 
    of liquid or gel which wraps around a bottle; at a push of a button it 
    heats up via some sort of chemical/electrical reaction, enough to warm up 
    a bottle. Great for heating up a bottle while at the beach, on a hike or 
    picnic, etc.
    
    Lands End diaper bag - durable, functional, doesn't look like a "diaper
    bag". Now available in a back-pack format.
    
    "Lion"(?) dishwasher rack - small plastic mesh container which can be
    placed in the top rack of the dishwasher and holds nipples, pacifiers, 
    bottle rings, covers, sippy cup lids, etc.
    
     

Mobilo
Duplo
Dr Seus (and many other) books

"Bunkers" timber bed - converted from cot with rails, and chest of 
drawers/nappy change table to small bed without rails, to single bed with 
separate chest of drawers.

Video club membership (hire only)  :^)

Chele

    Loved:
    1st walking toy (still plays with it)
    Winnie the Pooh videos
    Certain books - Wild Things, Dr. Seuss, I swallowed a fly
    Bubbles
    Backpack (though this stopped at about 30 lbs)
    toolbox with plastic tools (this girl loves her hammer)
    baby monitor (a must)
    footstools (allows her to "reach" things herself)
    horse on springs
    little rocking chair
    
    Didn't pay attention to:
    baby swing
    cups with molded tops (likes the plain old sippy)
    car seat with plastic inside (too cold or too hot)

    
    My turn...
    
    DIDN'T USE/LIKE:
    ----------------
    Snugli front carrier - she hated it!  We used it once or twice.
    Bath ring - at 6-7 months, stopped using infant bath tub and went to
               full bath tub.  Bath ring got in the way of her playing and
               me washing.  Used once or twice.
    Playpen - we just never used it and now at 13 months, its probably too 
               late.  
    
     
    USED ALOT:
    ---------
    porta crib - we go away alot on weekends and we also used in in our
              living room the first 3 months whenever Lauren slept during
              the day.
    baby monitor - this is a must in a larger house
    Booster seat - we use for snacks in rooms other than where highchair is
              and we take it when we visit or eat out
    Bathtup thermometer - (the duckie one that someone else described)
     
    THE JURY IS STILL OUT                           
    ---------------------
    Activity Rocker - Even at 13 months, she can't rock it and isn't too
             interested in the gadgets.  Cost $40+ too!
    Mower walker toy - this thing seems to get stuck whenever a ball is
             supposed to be pushed out.  Lauren does much better with her
             dumptruck walker.
    Other toys... not sure yet.  I think that she is just not ready for
            some of the toys we bought.  She prefers books and playing with
            us the most!

    I'm next:
    
    Worth It:
    
    Graco playard - didn't get much use except for weekends away until he
                    went to care giver at 15 months and it served as a crib. 
                    Just graduated from it this week at 21 months
    Gerry Monitor - 2 channels a life saver with phones in the area.
    Graco adjust h.chair - great for growing boy and changing tables.
    Nylon mesh tub toy bag - kept everything out of the way for grownups
    Bubbles, flashlights, books, Give It A Whirl toy from Discovery Toys,
    Washable markers
    Plastic lap or "bed" tray for sitting and eating or coloring on floor
    Sheep skin for crib, stroller and infant play on floor
    Graco battery swing - bassinet
    
    
    Not So Hot:
    
    Graco battery swing - seat. Pitched my son forward if he fell asleep
    Walker - much prefered bouncer chair
    Activity Gym - played with twice.
    Diaper wrappers - ended up going disposable after first major poopy.
    Front Snugli - I felt pregnant and uncomfortable, Cody couldn't see
                   anything
    Finally, the baby bath tub. Not big enough for my long baby, so
             we took baths together until he was big enough to go it alone.
             Boy, do I miss the fun baths we had - singing, splashing.
                                              

    Ditto the Graco porta crib; easy to set up, carry and transport on
    planes.
    Ditto the monitor with 2 channels, I have kind where send and receive
    each have batteries and can go remote.
    
    For those whose child haven't used infant toys, we're getting
    unbelieveable use out of my oldest daughters' infant toys (which she
    *never* played with when young) now as she shows her younger sister how
    to use them!  
    
    "Goodnight Moon" for a 1-year old.
    
    Believe it or not, a doll umbrella stroller as a walker toy for a 1-2
    year old!  Our 12mo. old (girl) and my friend's tough as nails 2yr don
    just love to stroll around their favorite stuffed animal/doll incl.
    Barney as walking children.  

    I am amazed no one liked their front packs.  We used ours continually
    until the kids outgrew them, enough that I have two of them, one  sized
    for Frank and one for me.  It helped with Atlehi as she loved/loves
    body contact as much as possible and arms do wear out after a while. 
    Not to mention the fact that sometimes you need free hands to do other
    things.
     
    We also hike in areas where no stroller can go, and the front pack
    allowed us to carry the monsters as well as carry a pack when
    backpacking.  In cold weather I could zip my coat around her so she had
    my body heat to keep her from becoming chilled.  I could also nurse her
    on the go.  
    
    Now she rides in a back pack.  I wish I could still find a way to get
    my coat around her for bitter weather,  as not wanting to chill her is
    cutting into my exercise program this winter on cold days.  
    
    cheap umbrella stroller.  works for me for light duty.  for heavier
    duty stuff, the backpack comes into play.
    
    Harness and leash.  Invaluable in crowed shopping centers, sidewalks
    near busy streets and other places where it isn't safe for her to walk
    completely independantly.  One saved Carrie from at minimum serious
    injuries when coming down a flight of stairs on Amtrack and the train
    lurched, throwing her off the stairs.  The leash enabled me to keep her
    from falling to the steel deck 7 feet below us.  The velcro wrist
    leashes are useless to me, as my kids figure out velcro before they are
    walking and the braclets don't stay on.  See above on the train for
    another reason for the full harness.
    
    Bike trailer.  Frank loves it.  I am so-so, but I don't bike as much as
    he does.  
    
    Playpen.  Good for toy storage, or an emergency place to plop a kid
    when mom or dad have to attend to another kid, or the oven.  Useless
    for any length of time.  
    
    Plastic "ice cubes"  they come in lots of colors and I use them for
    bumps, bruises etc.  they are cheap enough that having a kid take one
    home doesn't matter.  I go through about one jar/year.
    
    At least two different varieties of breast pumps.  For me, different
    pumps work at different times, so I have a cylinder manual, and a small
    electric.  
    
    meg

    As much as I liked the front pack, I loved the backpack and each of
    my kids rode in it til way past 2 years old. 

    I didn't like the front pack because it made me feel like I was
    pregnant again :-)
    
    The swings seem to be essential for some children and totally disliked
    by others.  I would borrow one, if at all possible, before deciding to
    buy one.
    
    My mother thought the nightshirts with the draw string bottom were
    indispensible.  I thought they were a pain in the neck.
    
    Blanket sleepers are wonderful.  At any age.  I've even thought about
    getting one for myself.
    
    I valued the monitors enough so that when my son was born 20 months
    after my daughter, I bought a second one with a different channel so
    that I could monitor both of them.  (Our house is big, and our bedroom
    is very far away from the kids.)

	I used a borrowed snugli pack until each kid was around 14 pounds.
	Beyond that, my neck couldn't stand the strain.

	Next kid, I'm getting a baby "sling".  A few friends at church
	have them and love them.  I tried one on, and it seemed more
	comfortable.  

	Also, the backpack is a must for me.  I don't think I could
	have enjoyed a moment of my summer vacation without it!

	Unfortunately, the last time I used it, the next day I felt
	as though I'd pinched a nerve.  I think Andrew is a bit too
	heavy for me to carry in it any more (so how do all you parents
	carry your toddlers in one ???)

	The Graco Pack-n-play has it's own spot in our kitchen.  Andrew
	uses it more than Emily ever did, but I can't imagine traveling
	without one.  Andrew will also play in his for a while as
	long as I'm in the same room - a lifesaver when Mommy doesn't
	feel well!

	There's more, but I'm out of time !

	Karen

	Didn't use
        ----------

	Swing - although we didn't put Kristen in it until she was about 5wks.
                My nephew was in it from birth and loved it.  Maybe early
                use is the trick here.  Or maybe it's just different kids.
	Snap T-shirts - seemed to always ride up.  We only used them a few
                        times and then moved to the onsies (even before the
                        umbilical cord had healed) They worked much better.
	Draw string gowns - some people love these, but I thought they were
	                    a pain.  Again we used them for a short time and
                            then switched to light weight sleepers with legs.
	Mittens - (to protect baby from scratching herself) She hated these and
                  always wanted her hands free.  We learned fast how to cut 
                  finger nails.

        Did use
        -------
	Activity Rocker - (Re .7 - we got this as a hand me down from my nephew
                           who never used it, but Kristen has loved it since
                           about 8months and still at 21 months has fun sitting
                           in it pretending she is talking on the phone and 
                           playing with the buckle.) I guess it depends on the
                           child.
	Port-a-crib - couldn't live without it, we're away every weekend of
                      the summer and it's GREAT!
	Booster seat with tray - Great for travel with or without tray, but
                                 sometimes we need the tray.
        Onsies - What a great invention!
        Umbrella stroller
        Infant car seat
        Activity Gym - the toy where the baby lays on her back and looks up
                       at the little toys, she loved this.
        Rear view mirror - the one that attaches to your existing rear view
                           mirror.  It's great for checking on the little one.

    karen,
    
    what kind of pack do you have?  if it is one of the older styles, they
    are tough on shoulders and necks.  The newer ones are more like a
    standard frame pack, and about as (un)comfortable.  They are quite
    usable well into the 40 pound range.  Alos don't not use it, and then
    start in on a long walk with it.  build up to it, and use it weekly at
    least, so the weight doesn't come as a shock.
    
    meg

    Got lots of use:
    ================
    Infant carseat (Century) - is being borrowed by a friend. Wouldn't live 
    	without one for the first 6 months!
    Graco Battery Swing w/ adjustable seat positions - He loved it up until
     	about 5 months old...then I think he got bored.  But he was in it
    	from about 3 weeks old.  The seat leaned pretty far back so and
    	and had a slow-rock setting for young babies.
    Bouncy Activity Seat - this was one of his favorite things after the 
    	swing got boring.  He would sit in this all the time while I did 
    	housework, in the bathroom while I showered, ate dinner.  I used
    	it to feed him in too sometimes (took the toy bar off).  The nice
    	thing was it was washable.
    Front Carrier - I'm one that used this all the time.  I liked having
    	both hands free and having baby close to me.  I used it in the
    	market a lot so I could leave the basket to go get something.
    	I used the infant car set/carrier sometimes too as he got older.
    Onesies! - these are the BEST invention in my eyes.  I still buy them
    	for my 20 month old... as well as onesie turtlenecks and shirts..
    	not just underwear.  They don't come untucked from jeans/overalls.
    	I hate having to constantly tuck in shirts.  Although the snaps
    	can be a pain sometimes.
    Tub ring - I did use this up until Mitch was about 15 months... then
    	he wanted more freedom to swim and splash and stick his head under
    	water (seriously...all the way under).
    Walker - we just recently threw it away (it broke).  Mitch was using it
    	as a TV chair.  He would climb in and out of it on his own.
    	It was very nice when he was first walking too since it kept him 
    	out of reach of things I didn't want him to grab.
    
    Not too much use:
    =================
    Graco pack 'n play - I am not saying this wasn't worth having... I used
    	it and still do (but more as a toy box now).  It was great for
    	beach trips and other travel. But got limited use once he was
    	mobile.
    Drawstring Gowns - didn't like these at all.  
    Backpack - this didn't get much use either, but it's probably more
    	that I didn't like the kind of pack (it was handed down from a 
    	relative ... not bought new, so I guess it wasn't much of a loss).
    Umbrella Stroller - in my opinion these are pretty useless...other 
    	than they are light and easy to set up.  The wheels never work
    	right, and they have no room for storing anything. I still use
    	my full size stroller because it has a HUGE kangaroo basket for
    	storing things.
    
    julie

	Meg,

	I've got a Gerry.  It's supposed to position the weight on your
	hips.  I didn't have the same problem with
	Emily; I remember wearing it when she was about 25 pounds,
	and Andrew's just 22.  I was using it for weekly grocery
	shopping, at least an hour at a time, and occasionally for
	a two hour mall trip.  The day that I had a problem was
	after about three hours in the mall.

	Karen

    karen,
    
    I have an ancient Gerry, and it lacks the decent hip-belt that my packs
    do, which puts a lot of pressure on my shoulder and neck.  However, for
    short trips the fact that it folds up smaller than the newer back-packs
    is an advantage.  
    
    I have seen one that a friend has from another comapany I would love to
    have if I could find one used.  Now that atlehi is 20 months, I don't
    anticipate using a pack for more than another year or two ;-) (We
    backpack as much as possible in the summer). amd can't justify the hit
    to the budget.
    
    meg

    
    
    Babywrap:  My sister gave me her baby wrap that she got from her
    	sister-in-law. I don't think I could live without this. It works
    	much better than a front carrier (I have 2 of those). It looks
    	like a big sheet and she taught me how to wrap my baby in it.
    	Brittany loves it cause she can move her arms and legs and I
    	can use both hands. Its wrapped around my shoulders and around
    	my waist so I don't get pinched or have too much weight on one
    	side. It looks like the kind Indians used to use in the old days.
    	I used it at the airport on our last trip. I carried 2 bags, the
    	diaper bag and my purse while carrier Brittany through the
        terminal.
    
    Didn't care for:
    	Activity gym - my kids always toppled it over. They were more
    	 interested in empty gatorade bottles used as bowling pins.
    
    	Baby swing: Only used a coupld of times with both kids.
    
    	Porta crib: used as toy box for a long time.
    
    	
    Rose

    Other stuff that we liked and used a lot:
    
    Gerry backpacks - great for hiking, etc, until they reach approx 2 yrs
    old.
    
    Snuggli, etc, frontpacks - One in particular (Evenflow Aviator) got a
    ton of use.
    
    F/P safety gate - you squeeze the handle to retract the rubber 'pins',
    release the handle to expand the pins. Tight enough to stay in place,
    easy enough to be totally transportable. Caution: will not work well if
    butted against round posts/balustrades.
    
    Sunbeam Hot-shot - fastest way to heat water with which to mix powdered
    formula. Produces very hot water in less than 60 seconds, which when mixed 
    with enough powder for an 8-oz bottle and then shaken, ends up at just the 
    right temp for the baby.
    

    Reaching back in time...
    
    Top Favorite thing we used forever:
    
    A square (playpen sized) blanket made by a friend.  One for each baby,
    in turn.  They played on these before they could crawl, then used them
    for a hundred other things.  Now (age 7 and 9), that's still the
    blanket used for most living-room activities - including cuddling on
    the couch.  These have been washed a million times.
    
    Great for little babies:
    
    The swing.  This is how we got to eat meals at the same time!  I've
    noticed that some babies love it and some hate it - a great reason to
    borrow rather than buy one!
    
    The backpack.  Having borrowed an LLBean top-of-the-line model, but
    also owning a Gerri standard backpack, I would recommend spending the
    extra money for the better one.  It does a much better job of spreading
    the weight over your frame, like a real backpack.
    
    "Baby Bag".  This is a snowsuit without arms type of deal.  It stayed
    right in the carseat and we slid the baby in, wearing indoor-clothes
    and a hat, strapped her up, and off we went.  Perfect for the first
    winter.
    
    Safe-T-Pen.  This is a square version of the Fisher Price blue packable
    crib.  Weighs 11 lbs and is very small when packed.  (1/2 the size of
    the FP.)  Don't know if they still make it.
    
    A wind-up comfort toy.  A friend who is a year ahead of me in
    motherhood made me promise to acclimate my baby to get the "going to
    bed" cues from a wind-up music toy rather then from nursing.  (She was
    trying to get out of that role and having a very hard time)  So each
    baby had her own soft music doll.  This worked great!  And of course
    they still have them.  They each have a "special" doll as well, and
    they say they are taking them to college - I believe it!
	
    A GOOD stroller.  We used a cheap one for a while - what a pain!  It
    doesn't have to be expensive or new, but it should be sturdy and have
    the features you will use.  Ask around to see what's out there now.
    
    Washcloths by the dozen (found at K-mart, etc.)  We used these for
    everything and there was always one when you reached for it.
    
    Plastic tub ring.  This is for when the baby can sit up and be bathed
    in the real tub, but isn't very sturdy at it yet.  No substitution for
    your hand on the child, but allows you to use only one while you lather
    them up with the other.  Needs the seat sponge with it.
    
    And the number one most used thing for the money: Boomerings from
    Discovery Toys.  These plastic rings can clip together to make a chain
    - you can get a generic version that works as well.  We used these for
    EVERYTHING when the babies were are the throw-it-on-the-ground stage. 
    In restaurants, we'd just haul the toy (or whatever) back up instead of
    scrambling on the floor, when out in the stroller we got to keep the
    toys, and when traveling the toys were connected to the carseat.  When
    the babies were small, they loved to rattle them, later they made
    chains and hauled things around with them.   We even used them once to
    turn a napkin into a bib.
    
    

	We're currently using a few Boomerings to keep the
	cabinets closed when Andrew's cruising about.  There's
	nothing in the cabinets to hurt him, but he pinched his
	fingers a week or two ago, so for now, I'm keeping them
	closed!

	Karen

    What about older kids bargains;
    
    Likes:
    - Puzzle, not wooden type, but the 25, 63 and 100 piece disney puzzles.
    - Crayons, Paints and markers, we have an endless supply at our house.
    - Rollerblades & protective gear , my 8 year old love them.
    - Playschool doll house, hours of fun and you can keep buying pieces to
      add on, the fun never ends.
    - Play-doh, as much as I hate the mess, the kids love to be creative.
    - Disney-Sing-Along videos
    - Fisher Price Adventure land castle
    - Disney character people
    - legos and Duplo blocks
    - Little tykes cozy cottage
    - wagon
    - Cassette Players and tapes
    
    Dislikes:
    - Rocking chairs, we have three, what a mistake
    - Fisher price basketball hoop
    - Skip-it
    - Those tents for the house 
    - Cozy coupe car
    - Barbie Fold & Fun club house
    - All the little barbie accessories ie.. combs, brushes, cameras
    - Fleas on Fred
    - Toy boxes, mine have got to go...
    - McDonalds and Burger King toys (at bottom of toy box)

    We got our money's worth from:
    
    Onesies
    Fisher-Price infant swing
    Kanga-rocka-roo seats -- perfect for first feedings.  I schlepped
      my kids all over the house in one and thus was better able to
      keep them with me.  
    Graco Porta-Crib.  Someone should receive the Nobel Prize for inventing
    	this.
    Folding high chair.  This is *very* sturdy, yet it folds nicely for
    	storage in our small house.
    Play yard or playpen.  Both kids liked it, but our daughter LOVED it.
    	Real life-saver for me, too.
    Sleep-and-play suits and bunny sleepers
    Good-quality umbrella stroller
    Also a full-size stroller is nice for walks around the neighborhood.
    	My daughter is 3.5, and she'll still ride in it, which means I can
    	take longer walks for me without wearing her out.
    Sippy cups with two handles
    Another vote for the dishwasher thing that holds pacifiers, nipples,
    	etc.
    Stain Stick.  I keep one in the bathroom and pre-treat the kids'
    clothes every night.
    
    Things for the Older CHild that are essential:
    
    Paint with water books
    Coloring books, crayons
    Books, period.  My kids will read anything!
    Sweats
    Magnetic letters and numbers.  A pain in the neck to pick up
    	afterwards, but the kids sure love them.
    Cups with sippy lids
    Blankets.  I keep the old receiving blankets around.  Our daughter 
    	has a vivid imagination, and she loves playing with them.
    Sesame St./Barney videotapes, also the Disney Sing-Along Songs tapes.
    	The kids are still watching them at ages 6 and 3.
    Plenty of board games.  Our son wanted to learn how to play "Sorry"
    	at the ripe old age of 5 -- so I taught him!  The adaptations
    	of the "adult" board games for the younger kids are very good,
    	i.e., Scrabble Junior, Boggle Jr., Monopoly Junior.
    Cabinet locks.  We're still using them.  Better to be safe than
    	sorry.
    A couple of old sofas in the rec room in the basement that they
    	can beat the hell out of.
    Colorforms.
    
    Things I could do without:
    
    Fancy-schmancy clothes that I'm afraid to dress the kids in.
    Those wretched nightgows with the drawstring bottom.  
    Sungli-type baby carriers.  I couldn't hack 'em, and the kids 
    	disliked them.
    "Toy" weapons.  
    Trolls and Mighty Max, especially the one where Max is fighting some
    	vampire or something.  Our son got this at a Halloween party and
    	it went into the trash the same night.
    And, although they love 'em, small cars, airplanes, etc.  If I step
    on one more Matchbox car in my bare feet, I'll scream!!
    
    Crabbily,
    Kate
    

    I'm not sure about the vocabulary here - between American and Euopean
    but here goes:
    
    My baby is 4.5 months old and since she was 10 weeks has loved the
    activity gym.  I put it above her relaxer chair and she talks to the
    clowns and holds them.   It's better that way than for her to lay on
    her back.
    
    She loves a small Disney rattle which has a teething ring attached.
    
    Also the Baby Bouncer which you attach above a door and she bounces
    around like crazy.  And the relaxer chair which I move from room to
    room so she can watch me.
    
    The baby sling is good as well because in the village where I live
    there are no pavements and with French drivers it's a bit suicidal
    to walk with a pram or pushchair.  	I've also taken her out for walks
    through the forest in this - although after a while it's a bit
    back-breaking.
    
    I also have a fish bath thermometer which is very useful - I'm always
    surprised at how hot the bath needs to be.
    
    Baby car seat - absolutely necessary.  I also use it in shopping
    trolleys.  
    
    NOT used so far....
    
    A bath seat to put in the bath - she hates it!
    
    Discovery carpet - she gets frustrated
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Love:                
    - onsies, the undershirts, and shirts
    - FP activity gym. This was a life saver. It was the first thing which
      really entertained him for at least 5 minutes. Since the parts pull off he
      used them differently as he got older.
    - Swing. The other thing that entertained him and put him to sleep.
    - monitor
    - cloth diaper bag from Lillian Vernon catalog. one side zips open with
      fold out plastic for changing. 
    - insulated EMS bottle bag
    - litle chair
    - own table and chairs
    - push toy just as he started walking. at 18 months he still loves them
    - walker
    - Graco portacrib
    - duckie water thermometer
    - blanket sleepers
    - consignment shops for toys and clothes
    _ century car seat with base and awning (for summer baby)
    - plastic juice container with straw - the kind that doen't spill when
      tipped tho it does when squeezed by older person
    - Benedryl - really helped teething
    - sweats
    and the all time best thing we found and had a million comments were:
    - knee pads while he was crawling.  we have a tiled floor in the family
      room which really ripped up his knees and clothes. he would also come
      home from day care with his pants just about ruined from the dirt and
      scraping.  
    
    No's:
    - bath ring
    - play pen
    - teething rings and oralgel - even though he was in agony as each
      tooth came in he would only knaw on the toy of the moment and
      wouldn't open mouth for the gel
    
    - drawstring gowns
    - clothes that don't snap  and go all way down leg
    - sadly the backpack and snugli - my back was so bad for the first year
      couldn't use them. 

               
Kid items worth their weight in gold:

Deep basin kitchen sink - used for baths up to ~3 years old,
	saves Mom&Dad's backs!
Ferber's "Solve Your Child's Sleep Problem" - on my second copy....
Bouncer/Johnny-Jump-Up
Washable cotton nursing pads
Blanket Sleepers - Winnie-the-Pooh/now Paddington Bear from
	Sears are absolutely the best - hold up wash after
	wash.   also like Carter's Classic Collection that
	zip from both the top and the bottom to make changing
	easier (these pill pretty bad though..)
100% COTTON infant/toddler/children's clothes (except for the
	fact that they stain easier...)
Infant tops/turtlenecks that snap at the crotch and Onesies
Duplo blocks - my 5 year old still prefers them over his Legos

Seldom-used for either of my kids and/or despised by their mother:
    
Snugli
Baby Swing
2-piece outfits for newborns/infants that don't have snap crotch
Inexpensive, polyester sleepers, etc that look terrible after
	the first wash....refer to cotton passion above 8^)
Any toy with millions of little pieces (personally I don't
	understand why Playmobil is loved by many....)
          

something we used a great deal that nobody has mentioned yet:
	
	tripping garters

These are little stretchy terry cloth bands that you use to anchor the
baby's clothes to their legs.  These are useful as soon as the kiddo starts
walking.  We used them with blanket sleepers which are typically large when
you first buy them, and also with any clothing where the legs were a bit
long in the beginning.

Available from Safety First catalog.

    I know Ferber's well-respected, etc., but this just struck me funny:
    
    .28> Ferber's "Solve Your Child's Sleep Problem" - on my second copy....
    						       ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    
    Apparently it's not "Solve Your Child's Sleep Problem Problem *Quickly*"!
    
    Leslie
    
    P.S. Am I the only one in here who *loved* the string-bottom nighties? 
         (Am I the only one who can tie them quickly, or what's the prob?)

    I second a vote for the drawstring nighties.  No snaps to fumble with
    at 2:00 AM!
    
    Another item I couldn't have lived without is an infant seat, I forget
    the brand we used.  It could be set to bounce, prop up for feeding, or
    sit level.  My kids sat everywhere in this, we attached toys to the
    handle, and dragged it all over the place.  After 2 kids, the springs
    gave way, guess we got our $$ worth.
    
    Julie

    
    re: .30
    
    Ah, good one!   I'm on my second copy because I loaned the first one
    out one too many times (i.e. never got it back...)
    
    cj/

    I can't remember if they were called onsies, but I did not like the
    undershirts that snap just at the crotch.  I found them difficult to
    pull over babies head.  Not only that, and maybe my babies were just,
    shall we say, hefty, but those type also seemed designed for a thin
    body.

    I liked the undershirts which snap down the front, and then a flap 
    comes between the legs, from behind, and up around the waist to snap 
    there.  I avoided the struggle with the head, and the shirts were had a
    wider girth.

    My son is now 4 1/2, but here is my list:
    
    Couldn't live without:
    
    Onesies
    Blanket sleepers
    Pram suits
    Bibs
    Changing table
    Infant car seat
    Lot's and lots of cloth diapers (used as burp/spit up rags).
    This ring that fits around the neck of a baby bottle and has a strap
    attached to it.  It then gets attached to whatever the baby is sitting
    in, (i.e. stroller, car seat, shopping cart) so if the baby throws the
    bottle out, it doesn't get lost.  This thing was a life saver while
    driving in the car.  I don't want to tell you how many times I would
    have had to pull over and stop the car to retrieve the bottle if I
    didn't have one of these things.  It later was used to attach my son's
    toy keys to it in the car.
    A leash
    Play pen (my son loved it!)
    Baby swing (again, my son loved it!)
    Walker (I have no stairs in my apartment, so it was safe)
    Lots and lots of books and toys, kept him occupied for hours, still do!
    
    Things I could live without:
    
    Breast pump (couldn't get the thing to work and I only got frustrated!)
    Snuglie
    Bath ring
    Baby wash cloths (What a waste of money, I use the regular ones)
    T-shirts that didn't snap at the crotch
    Anything that didn't snap at the crotch! :-)
    
    Lori B.
    
    P.S. I love my son's toy box, it keeps all his toys from being all over
    the floor in his room.

    Things we loved:
    
    Graco Pack n Play [the big one] - from when the kids came home from the
    hospital til they were around 11 months old, they had all their daytime
    naps in them, and only went upstairs to their cribs for night-time. 
    And the sitter used to bring 1 Pack n Play to the beach every day in
    the summer for them to sit in/nap in while they were there. And for
    travelling to anyone's house, they were great.  We even brought them to
    Florida when the kids were 19 months old so that they had a place to
    sleep. Now that the kids are 3 1/2, we're using them for all those
    visits from my husband's sisters and their kids.  This one takes the
    prize for the best thing we had for the kids.
    
    Baby monitors -- we had 2; one for upstairs and one for downstairs so
    that I could hear if they woke up at night and in case I wanted to go
    outside or to another part of the house when they were napping
    downstairs. It was easier just to have 2 of them set to different
    channels then to keep moving them around.  
    
    Sesame Street gym -- they played with that til well after the
    'appropriate age' and Brad finally fell on it and broke it irreparably.
    
    Bath ring -- it was easier to put Brad in the bath ring so he couldn't
    stand in the tub, while Jessica would usually just sit there [they
    always have baths together].
    
    Double stroller -- we took the kids everywhere, and my stroller just
    lived in the car.
    
    Baby swing - this one belongs under both used and didn't use. Jessica
    absolutely loved the swing, and it couldn't go fast enough or high
    enough for her.  Brad, on the other hand, didn't mind sitting in it,
    just don't let it swing. This also seems to hold true for them now at
    this age on the swingset.
    
    Century baby carrier/car seat -- these were great. Never had to worry
    about picking up a sleeping baby, and I didn't need a separate baby
    seat.  And it worked especially well when we brought Jessica with us to
    the hospital to visit Brad in the NICU.  
    
    Things we didn't use or I didn't like:
    
    A changing table -- it tended to collect stuff in their room. I did all
    my diaper changing downstairs on the floor or on the couch [my mom
    always preferred the kitchen table]. 
    
    Outfits with _buttons_ down the legs instead of snaps. I swear the
    person who designed that outfit [and it was so pretty] should have been
    taken out back and shot!
    
    Snugli -- although I liked it, the kids didn't.
    
    

	re .29

	Thanks, Deb!

	I was wondering if there was some creative way I could
	keep Andrew from tripping!

	I'd never heard of the trip garters.

	Karen

    re: trip garters
    
    An alternative to trip garters are hair scrunchies!  I have lots of
    these for pulling my hair back.
    
    I figured this one out after Sarah wore a new blanket sleeper that was
    a little too big and she kept tripping over the feet.  I saw the
    scrunchie on the table and wrapped it twice around her ankle.  It was
    tight enough to hold the bulk of the material up and loose enough not
    to hurt her.
    
    Not the most fashionable, but certainly inexpensive and multi-purposed.
    
    Susan

I'm in the (minority?) "loved those drawstring nighties" camp.  I just
found it too difficult to get those little infant feet and legs into the
sleep 'n play infant clothes those first 4-6 weeks.  I even took Noelle
to her doctor's appointments in those (though my mother thought she should
be "dresssed" :-)

    I'm also in the minority.  I just couldn't deal with getting 
    little legs into sleepers in the middle of the night.  I hear
    from a new mom that they have these nighties with elastic at the
    bottom now.  That's even better!
    
    Pam

    I also used the nighties, having had 2 summer babies. The nighties
    kept them warm but made it easy for me to change the baby after
    mid-night feedings, without barely opening my eyes!
    

For all the convenience of Onesies without the hassle of having a process
similar to stuffing sausage, try Pilucho from JC Penny.  You lay your 
Staypuff marshmallow baby on it, insert the arms, and it snaps in the front,
then the leg piece pulls through the legs and snaps on the side.  They're
great.

j.

    re: .41
    
    Sounds exactly like what I was trying to describe.
    
    btw, I *love* your expression: Staypuff marshmallow baby

    During the summer, my son was living in the Piluchos from JC Penny's.
    I thought they were just great too!  Easy on - easy off - easy to
    change diapers.  I'm still using them now as underwear.  They have two
    snap positions for the growing baby too.
    
    Jean
    

>>    Sounds exactly like what I was trying to describe.

If I'd only read your second paragraph, I might have saved myself some
keystrokes :-).
    
>>    btw, I *love* your expression: Staypuff marshmallow baby

You should meet my baby :-).  Aside from Dada, his first 30 words were words
for types of food.

j.

	Unless, of course, your child is allergic to snaps.

	I used the onesies with the snaps only at the crotch
	to *protect* Andrew from the snaps/zippers on his other outfits.

	Otherwise, I had to look at stripes or circles of rash on
	his torso daily.

	Karen

    one thing I forgot in my original reply (.16) was the
    Thermoscan thermometer!  The kind that you put in the ear
    and get and instant reading!  It's very accurate ... I've
    don't both rectal and thermoscan during a fever to compare
    and make sure it was accurate - it it was right on!  The 
    nicest thing about the Thermoscan is that it's quick, 
    comfortable for the baby, easier on the parent(s), and
    you can monitor their temp while they are sleeping if 
    you are nervous!  I don't know how I could forget to
    mention it in my first note... we all use it and I wouldn't
    live without one!  They are a bit expensive ($70-100), but
    worth it in my opinion -- especially since mine didn't cost
    me a dime ... it was a gift!  ;-)
    
    julie
    

    
    
    I will second the Thermo-scan thermometer. We have one, and I
    wouldn't live with out it. 
    
    Just a comment, they have gone down considerably in price. Now,
    you can get them in Lechmere's for $50-$60 every day price.
    
    
    
    Anne Marie

    I returned my thermoscan thermometer because it was consistantly
    inaccurate.  2 consecutive readings would be off by as much as 3
    degrees.  My Dr. said they work great if the child has a very
    straight ear canal but otherwise they don't.
    
    
    				Mary

    
    
    Things I would not go without:
    
    - bottle rack from Right Start:  I have two, they allow bottles, rings
    and nipples to air dry in an orderly fashion.  Even with a dishwasher,
    the bottles were never dry enough to put in a cabinent.
    
    - swing:  Both kids used this, Courtney spent almost every minute of
    her life (when not nursing) in the swing for the first few months.
    
    I'm indifferent on the onesies...I could have lived without them, but I
    do use them.  
    
    - housekeeper:  except I would like one that does laundry!
    
    - infant carseat:  my kids were so small, they were in this for almost
    the entire first year.
    
    -beth

    The only item on my list that hasn't been mentioned much is the jumping
    toy.  We hand ours from a beam in our great room and put the baby in it
    every night so we can eat without him on our lap and still protect him
    from anything his big sister may have been playing with on the floor.
    
    He likes to stare at us while we eat and we like to see him jump.  It
    works for all four of us.
    
    judy

    We had one of those, but didn't use it much.  The only place we had to
    hang it was a door way, so the flow of people traffic was disturbed. 
    Plus, the baby didn't have a view of anything except the person sitting
    there making sure that he/she didn't jump into the door frame.  We had
    suspended ceilings which I didn't trust with babies weight.

    Given your room layout, I can see where it would have worked for you. 
    Guess I'm just advising a real good look at where you'd put one before
    you purchase it.

    This is very true.  We converteded this room from storage to usable
    space just last year.  For my older daughter we never bought one 
    because the rest of the house is 200 years old and there are no 
    doors with molding to hold the jumper, since the ceilings are so 
    low you couldn't have molding without making the top of the 
    door at about 5'6"!
    
    Adding this room (with vaulted ceilings) has changed our lives so much
    and made it much easier to have a safe place for kids to play.
    
    judy

If you don't want to get a walker and cannot use a jumper (our house is
not well designed for either), think about getting an "exosaucer".
We got one for our daughter for Christmas and she loves it.  It's 
a round thing (for lack of a better word!) with a seat in the middle.
She stands in the middle and can bounce up and down or swivel around in
a circle.  It has legs on the bottom that you can put down if you want
to stop her from rocking too much but we haven't seen the need for it.

Other things that we/she loved:

* swing since it allowed up to eat dinner for the first couple of
  months
* onsies because regular t-shirts ride up
* infant bathtub 
* infant car seat -- at 6 months, she is going to be out soon because of
  her height and I am not looking forward to putting her in the
  big seat
* the hand in the hand/foot teether set
* bassinet -- I really liked having her in our room the first couple
  of months

Medium feelings:

* the playpen -- at the beginning we used it as a crib in the living
  room but now when she is awake and I put her in, she acts like she
  is in jail

Didn't use:

* the snugli -- I felt like she wasn't supported well and she wanted to see
  what was going on 


-- Nisha

    One thing I could not have done without is my oldest daughter's
    "lovie" -- a small stuffed bear.  It was given to her when she was a
    couple weeks old by a very wise grandmother and it has been her constant 
    companion ever since she was 6 months old.  It is made by Eden Toys and
    is covered with a knit material, it is very soft and can be held
    anywhere by small hands.  "Baby" as my daughter calls it, can be easily
    washed and dried.  We realized early on that this was a favorite so we
    purchased a second one (don't tell her that!!!) which we switched off
    until she started washing Baby herself.  I've had to do repairs on both
    of them but she still loves it, despite my not so handy repairs.
    
    We decided that when our second came along to get her the current
    version.  They now make it with a terry cloth type material (probably
    should hold up a little better) and a few more styles.  But it is still
    easy to grasp and washes quickly.  Needless to say, we now have two for
    our youngest daughter too!
    
    I'm sure may of you have your own special comfort item (blankets are a
    biggie) but they can be indispensable!  Just make sure it can be
    duplicated (in case of loss or damage) and washes quickly.
    
    Jane
    
    
    
    I can't count the number of times when our oldest was hurt or tired
    that Baby was a lifesaver!

I got a set of "Sleepy Wings" from the Right Start catalog, and 
loved them so much I keep them on hand to give away!  They are pillows 
that hook into the shoulder straps of the infant car seat and keep your 
poor little baby's head from flopping over when they fall asleep in the 
car.  No newborn should be without them!  (The kind that goes around the 
head doesn't keep it from falling forward, and I wouldn't want to mess 
with an under-the-chin one either.)

Also, a recommendation from a friend, a "Water Baby"... a little baby 
doll with a rubbery body that you can fill with warm water to make 
it warm and soft.  Toddlers love them!


-Tanya

    
    I spent $25 on one of those ear scopes to detect ear infections.  I
    was hoping that next time Lauren got an ear infection, I wouldn't spend
    a couple of days wondering what was wrong.  Instead, I could find out
    for myself if she had an ear infection.  
    
    Well, what a waste of money.  She had an ear infection last week and
    there was absolutely no way I could get the thing in her ear.  She had
    such a fit that she threw up!  I even had my husband hold her but still
    couldn't get it in.  I don't know how doctors manage it!
    
    Meanwhile, the only ear I've checked out is my husbands (just poking
    around to see how it works).
    
    Karen

    .55 - Water Baby is a favorite of both my kids.  Ages 2 and 6.  
    
    They go everywhere with them - in the tub and to sleep at night.
    They both have the newborn water baby which is smaller than the regular
    one and easier for my 2 yr. old to handle.  That was the only thing she
    wanted for Christmas. 
    
    The Newborn one costs about $10 and the regular size one goes for $20.
    
    Kirsten
    

    Thought I new every toy out on the market....never heard of the 
    "Water Baby".  Does Toys R Us carry it?
    
    ..Lori

    
    Yes, Toys R Us carries it.  So does Caldors and Bradlees.
    
    I highly recommend it.
    
    Kirsten
    

    Couldn't find this in a title search...

    The baby shower note reminded me of the variety of items that new moms
    are told they "must have". This can be a huge category and your mileage
    will vary. Looking at one note in the baby shower topic, I was thinking
    I didn't use (or find a need for) most of what was on the list! 

    So for future moms I thought we could make a list of what we
    thought where must haves and what we lived without. 

    My must have for the first 6 months:

    1) portable phone
    2) cloth diapers for spit up 
    3) a crib toy (attached to the side)
    4) Onsies
    5) a snuggli sack 
    6) swing 
    7) a baby bath tub
    8) pack n play crib (pick you brand)
    9) Flap Happy hat (big brim and ear/neck flaps)
    10) car seat insert (prop head)

    I know some obvious things are missing like the car seat and diapers
    but I wanted to capture the ones you have a choice about!

    Didn't needs: (that some people swear by)

    1) pacifiers
    2) pedia lite drink stuff
    3) jars of baby food
    4) powders,cornstarch or lotions
    5) changing table 
    6) stroller 
    7) nursing shirts,nightgowns (get naked)
    8) baby towels and face cloths (use adult ones)
    9) monitor (the neighbors can hear her too)
    10) disposable bottles (always leaked)

    A pacifier is a must, if the baby spits it out fine, BUT
    if a baby needs it, the $2.00 investment is well worth it.
    My twin has a baby 27-JUL.  After her section (I was there)
    and she was resting, I went right down to the hospital store
    and got her a pacifier.  She thanked me then and she thanked 
    me the next day, she said the baby needed it during the night.
    If she didn't need it, she could have thrown it away, I wouldn't
    have been hurt, but if she did NEED it and it wasn't there...
    
    Also, Pedielyte (spelling) is for when your child is sick with
    diarreaha (sp?) or throwing-up.  You don't need it UNTIL the
    baby kid is sick.  It might not be convienent to go out and get
    it at the time your baby starts showing symptons.  It replaces 
    eletrolytes (sp?).  With my second child I bought two things in
    preparation, a container of diapers and a container of pedialyte
    (expiration dates).  I hope you NEVER need it, but if your baby
    is sick and can't keep mother's milk or formula down, you need 
    the baby not to dehydrate.  It cost around $4.00.  I hope you
    never need it, just like I hope you never need diaper cream,
    but please keep some in the house.

>    6) swing 

Need battery operated one.  Not windup; which run out just the time
the kid is falling asleep!  Great for the early months!

I disagree about strollers.  I find it a necessity.  Jamie was born
in December, and I could get him out of the house in the winter months
and stroll the mall, and let mom rest.  Also, he'd find the bumping along
soothing and sleep.  And I'd get mild exercise...  For the next one (due
Oct), we got a base stroller that takes a car seat.  That way you don't
wake the baby to transfer back and forth.  I expect it to be a big win.

Also for winter babies, those LL Bean sacks that merely let the head out,
but allow you to keep them warm and in a car seat.  No stuffing of baby
parts into a snow suit with arms, legs, and requiring shoes, esp when they
can't move any of those limbs...  ;-)

Charlie

    Here is my list of must haves. Remember every one is different in their
    likes, Natasha is a winter baby:
    
    1st 6 months
    
    -Battery operated Swing!!!!(my lifesaver)
    -onesies
    -terrycloth sleepers
    -cloth diapers for burping rags
    -infant carseat that detaches from base. Great to bring in resteraunts,
    or on shopping carts
    -receiving blankets, afghans-
    -disposible bottles (Walmart's brand does not leak)
    -toys (a variety is good)
    -baby food and baby ceral (she loves all flavors)
    -stroller
    -bouncy chair
    
    Things I never use or not very often
    
    -Snugglie (She hated it)
    -buntings 
    -draw string night gowns
    -newborn size anything
    -playpen
    -suction cup toys (they don't stick)

    What I needed:
    
    1.  Baby monitor!
    2.  bouncy chair, Aaron sat on the kitchen table in his bouncy chair
        while Steve and I ate our meals and our daycare provider found it
        to be something she wouldn't live without!
    3.  Baby swing, we only used it the first couple of months though.
    4.  Answering machine.  We didn't have a portable phone, so I usually
        let the answering pick up calls, was really handy when the
        insurance salespeople called.
    5.  JC Penny's sells something similar to onesies only they snap up the
        front as well as at the crouch (that looks wrong, but I've gone
        blank on the spelling).  Much easier than trying to put the onesie
        over the wobbly head!
    6.  Standard carters sleepers, they seem to be roomier and snap up both
        legs instead one like some of the others do.
    7.  Bibs that either snap or have velcro closures (I prefer the snaps
        because the velcro can rub wrong) again it's easier to put these on
        a wobbly neck.
    8.  Handiwipes!  We use these with plain water instead of diaper wipes
        for diaper changes.
    
    What I didn't use:
    1.  Changing table.  I use a quilt on the floor.  The changing table is
        just taking up room in Aarons bedroom.
    2.  Blanket sleepers while Aaron was an newborn.  Aaron outgrew them so
        quickly that they were more trouble to put on then they were worth.
    3.  Small size clothing.  Aaron was 8lbs 14 oz at birth, at 7 months
    	he's at least 20 1/2 lbs.  He was into mediums by the time he was 
    	3 weeks old and into larges by 3 months.  And sizes don't always
        run the same in the same manufacturer!  I bought some X-large
        sleepers, brand "C" from store "X".  A few weeks later store "Y"
   	had brand "C" sleepers on sale, the X-large was shorter and for a
        lighter baby!
        

    As said before, every child differs.  I used somethings with my first
    that the second wouldn't touch and vice versa.
    
    What I needed:
    
    1.  Baby monitor - in a 2 story house, it's a must!  It's also great
        later when 3 year olds are playing and you need to ease drop a bit
    	to monitor the play yet give them independence.
    2.  Stroller - again, it takes the strain off Mom's back
    3.  Portacrib - only if you travel much
    4.  Baby swing - was a life saver for the first few months
    5.  Pacifier - one took it, one didn't.  Also, don't be afraid to try
        lots of different styles.  The one that did take it refused the
    	orthodontic ones and wanted the old fashioned, straight kind.
    6.  Onesies - for winter babies as a tee-shirt, for summer babies as a
    	cool outfit.
    7.  Stretch suits - be aware that cheap ones run small while some like
    	Carter's tend to run a bit big
    8.  A&D Ointment - recommended for use instead of zinc oxide based
    	diaper rash powders - they're easier to wipe off of an already sore
    	bottom.
    9.  Good pre-wash (Shout or Spray & Wash) - formula and baby food are
    	two of the toughest stains to get out.
    10. Pedialyte (usually  I use generic version) - again, when vomitting
    	and diarreha start, Murphy dictates it will be in the middle of the
    	night.
    
    Things I didn't use:
    1.  Snuggli - mine wanted the freedom to move.  They didn't like being
    	swaddled either.
    2.  Disposable bottles - I didn't find washing the regular bottles to
    	be any more difficult, I just toss them in the dishwasher.
    3.  Lotions and powders - if they get dry skin, I just use a normal
    	lotion on them
    4.  Baby bath - I used neutrogena soap - same as the hospital used
    5.  Special baby laundry detergents - to quite our newborn nurse, don't
    	you get all of the soap out of your clothes?  If so, why does the
    	soap matter?
    6.  Baby bath tub - my two always got cold and screamed in them. 
    	Instead, I used something called a tubby which float in the
    	standard bath tub until then could sit with assitance, then I used
    	the kitchen sink.
    7.  Shoes - they don't fit with stretch suits, are a pain to get into
    	snow suits and the babies enjoy playing with their toes too much to
    	cover them up.
    8.  Playpen - I've always just let mine down to explore.

    Pedialyte is for what?  *Hydrating.*  Which means what?  Infusing with
    *water.*
    
    No thanks, I don't think I'll buy the instant water kit ("Just add
    water!")
    
    Leslie

re .6:

Dear Curmudgeon,

    Maybe I've been duped (wouldn't be the first time), but I believe that
    the benefit of Pedialyte is that it replaces not just the lost water,
    but also all the important stuff dissolved in the water (most of which
    seem to be metals of some sort, and do we really have all that gunk
    floating around in our bloodstream?  yecch :).

    I wouldn't buy Pedialyte in advance, though, because it does have a
    limited shelf life.  We dumped at least one container that was left
    over from an earlier problem time because it passed its expiration date.
    And it's not needed immediately in the middle of the night (when symptoms
    first occur, the digestive system isn't ready to handle *anything*,
    usually), in my experience.  Also, my son the picky eater refused to
    swallow it the one time we tried to give it to him (I think I gave him
    fruit juice and/or water instead).

				cheryl

    I used:
    1. monitor - be sure to try it out beforehand.  We went through 3 until
       we settled on the Sony (no interference).
    2. portable playpen - traveled with us for use as a bed and kept our
       dog and newborn at a safe distance.
    3. infant car seat - we had one of the larger seats that said it could
       be used from 0 - 40 lbs.  After we saw our little 5lb12oz baby
       in it we knew an infant car seat was a must.  Bought one on the way
       home from the hospital.
    4. washclothes - we still use a lot of these.
    5. 2 books - "what to expect the first year" and "Dr. Mom".  As a first
       time mom I had constant questions.
    
    Didn't use
    1. Baby swing with battery.  She hated it.  Fortunately we have let
       3 other couples use it and their babies liked it.
    2. Disposable bottles - couldn't find a nipple she like (and we tried
       them all).
    3. Baby oil, powder.
    4. All that baby bath stuff (the little blue tub) - seemed more of a
       hassle than it was worth.
    

    
    And to continue the Pedialyte rathole...
    
    if rehydration with some calories is desired, the recommended fruit
    juices are typically white grape and pear.  we've been told NOT to
    use Gatorade.   i keep a bottle of Beech-nut baby pear juice in the
    pantry for this purpose...
    
    cj/

    My Must Haves:
    stroller
    play yard
    sheep skin (crib and floor - lived in very old, very cold house)
    cloth diapers for spitups
    receiving blankets
    lullabye tapes
    onsies and stretchies
    diary/calendar for record keeping
    flannel back vinyl tableclothes fur under high chair/car seats
    bouncer chair (not walker)
    camera/film
    seperates - It was so hard to find seperates for babies.
    monitors
    
    Found infant baths, pacifiers, ointments, gum numbers, special bath
    liquids, and 50% of what we were told to get to be wasteful.
    Still have so much still left over in wrappers or barely used.