i figure i will really take advantage of this board :happy:

for all the mommies who have already taken home their precious babies...what kind of outfit did you bring them home in? i was putting more things in my hospital bag last night and was thinking...'what will i pack for him to wear home!'

I brought Charlee home in a white onesie with cute little cotton stretchy pants and a zip up matching cotton jacket with a little hat. I'd recommend packing 2-3 comfy outfits (that match the weather). I'd go with more simple zip up footed onesie jammies. Just think "ease" and "comfort". And don't forget a hat and socks

NB: posted on other topics of this group so its a repetition, but i thought this topic is more suitable as its Grads check-in:)

Hey moms plz share the must have for babies eg how many rompers, bodysuits, vests, trousers, burp clothes, bibs, caps, swaddle bags are good enough?

And other baby essentials? Do babies really need those aspirators.

And any remarks about avent food warmer and steam sterilizer for bottles. Just want to buy both of to avoid microwave coz I have read many articles about the side effect

I know 2/3 months back heatherCrist had whole discussion about what to carry to hospital, plz discuss that again or open a topic about what to buy when expecting

I think what works for one person/family doesn't always work for everyone else. I am a stay at home mom and do at least one load of laundry a day. We were given tons of stuff as well so the amount I have wouldn't necessarily be the amount I would buy. So with that being said...I'd recommend:

5ish burp cloths (one for baby's room, for where you spend your time at--which for us is living room, one for where baby sleeps--which is in our room, and one for diaper bag, and one extra)

3 swaddle wraps (I prefer the Summer swaddle me wrap with the velcro as opposed to a swaddle blanket) And make sure before you wash them to put the velcro parts together so it doesn't wear them out

I've never used a bib and got tons of them...but Charlee doesn't spit up and doesn't drool yet so...I have no good advice on that

I got SO many baby clothes and had to give away a ton (especially short sleep onesies newborn size...ummm hello people, it is winter in the midwest!) So I'd go with 5-7 onesies/pants that match the season your baby is going to be born in, 3-5 zip up (I prefer a zipper rather than snaps, they are easier for an exhausted mommy to manipulate lol) footed sleepers.

I have a MILLION hats as well but would say 1-2 would be just fine

I have the blue nasal aspirator from the hospital and have used it once but yes when baby gets a stuffy nose they are essential to have. I'd also recommend having a cool mist humidifier as well.

Must haves (in my experience): Gas drops (Simethecone), Gripe water, temporal thermometer, Milkies, Soothies, LOTS of breast pads, GOOD nursing bras (4ish, 2 is not enough)

As far as bottle sterilizers, I breastfeed exclusively and when I do pump into a bottle I just wash it in the dishwasher. And I don't have to worry about warming bottles so I can't help there either.

I will make a list of things I thought were important to bring to the hospital soon and post it on here

Hope this helps!

I gave Charlee one bottle just to try it out (which she did awesome btw) and I just took a big mug of hot water and put the bottle in it to warm up the milk. This is how we would make bottles when I was working as a Peds RN at Children's Mercy Hospital as well. I'm guessing a bottle warmer just does it quicker?!

Also...I was thinking about this the other day and wanted to share. After I had Charlee I would wake up in the middle of the night literally DRENCHED in sweat! My hair was soaked and I'd have sweat marks on my bra every morning when I woke up (gross huh)... Well the hormones after you have a baby tend to make a lot of women have menopause like hot flashes, especially at night when you are sleeping. So if this happens....totally normal

The list of "must haves" is gonna be a little different for everyone. The things that really helped me and were "must haves" were:

for me- Soothies (for sore nipples...LIFE SAVERS!), tennis ball (for massaging my lower back), camera/computer/cell phone charger, black comfy sleep pants (so if you bleed on them it is okay), several changes of pants/underwear, a few healthy snacks for you and hubby (I loved pb crackers, lara bars, etc), lanolin cream for when you shower (this helps if you have sore nipples...put the lanolin on before you get in the shower cause the water will feel like razor blades on your nipples...or at least it did for me!), a comfy nursing bra (I prefer my regular nursing bra--Bravado as opposed to the sleep ones--Did NOT like the Medela sleep bras at all), and chapstick (even though I was so in the zone I couldn't ask for someone to get it for me...so just set it out when you get there, your lips will get so dry!) and for me I needed lozenges for after delivery cause I had a sore throat from moaning/groaning, slipper to walk around (hospital floors are gross) I think that is about it.

for baby- baby book (don't forget to have them do his/her footprints in it), a comfy footed jammie/hat for when you go home (I packed several outfits and just kept her in the onesie the hospital provided until the day I took her home). a blanket for cuddling, gas drops (Charlee was born with really bad gas and to get a prescription for gas drops was near impossible so I just gave her some OTC simethecone/gas drops and it helped immensely).

The rest is just obvious stuff like music if you wanna listen to it, carseat, clothes for hubby, toiletries, etc.. I really didn't have time or energy to read so maybe a few movies if your hospital has a dvd/vcr during the down time when people are visiting..this was more so for Al than me. I napped when nobody was there visiting.

I regret not having someone take a picture of Al, Charlee, and I together after she was born. There are tons of pics of Charlee, a few of her and I, and a few of her and Al but none of us together. So I'd recommend making sure you ask someone to be in charge of taking some with you as a family.

And Ashley breastfeeding is a lot of work in the beginning...just getting into the groove with you and baby, but now it is so easy. I'm so glad I don't have to make bottles or worry about bringing enough formula when we leave the house. I'm sure for a working mom it will be a bit more work with pumping and storing milk...but once you figure out a routine it will be so easy!