Gimicks or useful baby stuff?
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Topic: Gimicks or useful baby stuff?
Posted By: Andie
Subject: Gimicks or useful baby stuff?
Date Posted: 23 August 2006 at 12:03pm
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So I don't poach Jax's topic on the top 5 things we couldn't do without, I'm starting this one on things that may not be really useful at all (would be handy to know for those of us still shopping for baby stuff here and there). Since of course the advertising will always tell you how essential their product is, and as a first-time mum, I really don't know if some things are helpful or necessary or a waste of money! So I was wondering about breastfeeding pillows. They look like they'd be great, look taller and sturdier than a regular tri-pillow, but anyone know if a tri-pillow does the job just as well? And cream for preparing nipples before birth... I'm using one by 'Aroma mother'... of course the tub says it's the best there is, and essential too... I think it might just smell nice but since I've got it I'm using it anyway! ------------- Andie |
Replies:
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 23 August 2006 at 12:06pm
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I used a normal tri pillow and it was fine. I had to use nipple cream after I had Andrew and used the palmers stuff and it was fine - did the job I was after. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: Jay_R
Date Posted: 23 August 2006 at 12:46pm
| I haven't used a pillow at all for breastfeeding - but some people find they need them. I use a nipple cream called purelan and it's great. |
Posted By: mrs frantic
Date Posted: 23 August 2006 at 12:54pm
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What about baby monitors - the breathing alarm type thingy's - are they pretty important and do most people use them...? ------------- Mrs Frantic Baby Maddisyn born 28 Sept 2006 http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 23 August 2006 at 1:41pm
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No to both of those for me. I was able to hear baby from anywhere in the house, even from outside if I left a window or the sliding door in the lounge open. Some people wouldn't be without them, though. As for breathing alarm thingys? Well, and not to offend anyone here, I felt that I would be going a bit overboard if I got one. I had a safetysleep (fantastic) and checked him fairly often, but I really didn't want to give myself another thing to worry about. As much as I would hate something like cot death to happen to me or anyone, I am very much a person who believes what will be will be. my best friend had a stillborn baby when I was preg with Jacob, and she had done EVERYTHING by the book, and there was no explanation for Baby's death, so thats whn I kinda figured, you can have all the bells and whistles, but... ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 23 August 2006 at 2:07pm
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sangenic nappy bins - i thought about getting one of those but found that those cheap smelly nappy bags and a pedal bin worked just as well. and it didnt cost a fortune to get refill bags...i think most $2 shops have the nappy bags as well as online disposable nappy stores.
baby wipes - you dont really need them. flannels work just as well and you know what goes on them - water. i got bad exczema when gabriel was first born and it went when i stopped using wipes. i didnt need a breastfeeding pillow cause of the shape of me and my breasts... however i did find a rolled up nappy under my breasts worked a treat when i first started. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 23 August 2006 at 2:15pm
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I don't see a need for a baby moniter unless there is a big distance from your room to the babies - like on different floors. And the nappy bins that take away the smell, we have a wheelie bin and just chuck them straight into there so much easier and no extra expense. But other people swear by them. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 23 August 2006 at 2:25pm
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I had a monitor with Maya and never used it as her room was always close to mine. It's finally getting some use now - even tho she is 3 her room is at the back of the house and I can hear her just in case. Won't bother with one for the twins as their room is next to ours.
I have bought breathing alarms tho. I didn't have one with Maya, but a friend lost her little boy to cot death in February and with the twins likely to be prem and small they are at increased risk so decided that even tho they are expensive I just can't put a price on my babies lives. I had a Safety Sleep with Maya, and have them for the twins as well. Never used a proper feeding pillow, just used a $10 extra fluffy pillow from the good old Red Shed. Might try one this time tho coz you can get ones designed to make feeding twins easier. Purelan was great after I had Maya, this time round have had dry nipples and am using up all my free samples. So far liking the Avent the best. -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 23 August 2006 at 2:31pm
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Another thing I remembered, those burp bibs as they call them that go over your shoulder. So don't need them cloth nappies more so much better and are bigger so can catch more. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: meow
Date Posted: 23 August 2006 at 2:32pm
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I've never used flannels for bums so I'd say go with wipes unless your baby has an allergy to them, you'll find out soon enough. Wipes come in handy for everything.
Normal washing powder is fine too (we use Dynamo liquid).. you'll find out if bubs is allergic then you can make the switch. Brand name baby things - like wipes, nappies etc.. I find Pams wipes and nappies awesome, the same as Treasures giggles. If not better! You could get an ultra variety for night time if you have a big wetter. Cloth nappies - you don't need special burp rags. You can use these for everything, we take them in the car on long trips, I used to put one over the top of Ella's capsule to keep the light out.. I use them under her sheets to help protect the mattress too. Lots of other uses. I agree, a tri pillow does a great job and I used to lay Ella on a normal pillow and feed her in our bed.. she fit on the pillow until I gave up breastfeeding at 13.5 months hehe Thats all I can think of at the moment. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 23 August 2006 at 2:57pm
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I had a breastfeeding pillow AND tri-pillow. Both were fine although my breast-feeding pillow was a little firmer which was better.
I never had a baby monitor as bubs was in the same room as us for ages. Not sure if I would've used it. IN hind-sight I didn't need it, but for my first baby I think I would've felt more comfy with one at the beginning. |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 23 August 2006 at 4:54pm
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I have a feeding pillow its full of beans got it from trademe and its awesome u can sit bubs in it to and use it as a back pillow for yourself when not feeding!
I have an angelcare monitor and i swear by it. Its been off a couple of times im presuming ellas reflux, she has a bad habit of holding her breath for a bit. Costly but if u can afford it and want it go for it. |
Posted By: AnnC
Date Posted: 23 August 2006 at 8:57pm
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what about changing tables? I never used one for both my other kids but considering it for this one - did anyone have one and was it more of a pain to use it (too big to be portable etc...) or was it a god send?
what abouta safety sleep - I haven't put this on my list of things to get and I once again didn't use one for either of my other kids, do you really need one? ------------- Ann 
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10) |
Posted By: mum2paris
Date Posted: 23 August 2006 at 9:19pm
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safety sleep - we swore by for Paris - made me feel better. Ayja decided she hated it straight off, so we didn't use it til she learnt to try and climb out of bed!
we used a tri-pillow - was just as good... Ayja still uses it now to lie on to have her bottles, and we used to put it behind the girls when they were first learning to sit. we got by with a bed, baby bath, bouncer, playgym, buggy and carseat. We got $2 shop change mats - with plastic backing they are polar fleece - nice and cheap folded up to put in nappy bags.. chucked in wash easily.. never used change table - baby can't fall off the floor.. Didn't have a monitor.. dunno if i would want one - both girls slept in our room till about 7 months old, (due to small flat) i mean you can check on them anyway, but yeah babies do tend to hold their breath sometimes - but i'm sure they do that more when they monitors - lol sitting there thinking "i wonder how fast i can make mum and dad come running?!" lolol Just kidding. It can be done without all the bells and whistles... it fact Paris's fav thing when she was little was not even playing with the bought toys.. we got the cereal and tissue boxes and she had a basket of boxes.. and she played with them and stacked them... she was a pretty basic kid.. still is. ------------- Janine and her 2 cool chicks, Paris & Ayja 
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Posted By: meow
Date Posted: 23 August 2006 at 10:16pm
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Yep I agree with Janine..there is a difference between needing something and wanting it.. we had a homemade hammock lent to us by a relative who sews.. we hung string with bulldog clips attached and clipped different things to it each day. Ella would lie there fasinated for hours when she was little..
We hire alot of toys now from the toy library, small flat and I don't see the point of wasting money on big toys anyway.. Ella loves to move from place to place and would get sick of something in a few mins.. she gets new toys every fortnight this way! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 23 August 2006 at 10:22pm
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One of those washing line things... the clothes airers... they are great substitutes for the expensive baby gyms! We did the same thing as Kat... clipped different dangly things on it all the time and Han used to lie under there for hours!
Turned around from my OhBaby trawling every so often to find little munchkin had fallen sleep under there. heheh so cute. (Ah the neglect   )
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Posted By: james
Date Posted: 24 August 2006 at 7:55am
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lol nikki i would have to say cot bumbers half the time they dont fit the cot and are a pain in the butt to get on and off ------------- <a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b4.lilypie.com/nLJ5p13.png" alt="Lilypie 4th Birthday Ticker" border="0" /></a> |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 24 August 2006 at 9:58am
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I had a change table and it was the best thing I was given. I had a really sore bck due to the extra weight I had gained from pre eclampsia so not having to get down on the floor to change Andrew was great. And when my MW came around she loved him being at a decent height for her to get at him, not having to get down on the floor as she not that little. I really want to get a hammock for this baby, what do people thing of them??? If they are good i'm going to convince the out-laws to get one for us. As they are on special at Farmers for $99. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 24 August 2006 at 10:07am
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we never had cot bumpers as i heard they were a risk of babies getting their heads stuck under them. in fact my cot had nothing in it except the baby and his blankets.
i think with change tables you have to try before you buy cause if it is the wrong height for you it can be worse for your back. oh and baby baths, i used mine about 4 times in total for the first baby and twice for the second. the shower seemed to do the trick for us, or else any big bucket or even the sink. oh but hooded towels for babies are cool. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker">
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Posted By: jax
Date Posted: 24 August 2006 at 10:57am
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When I was b/f the tri pillow was great, but you can use ordinary pillows too. Fortunately though, I never had any issues with cracked or dry nipples, so can't help there !
We have a monitor, but it only gets used if we are out in the lounge watching TV, otherwise it stays switched off because her room is right next to ours as well. As for the breathing alarm things, it would personally do my head in I think, it was hard enough for me to switch off to all the snorts and grunts and sniffles she makes in her sleep anyway... without an alarm going off in the first place, but that's just me. For some people I know they are very useful ! A special nappy bin isn't critical, we actually have a 'backup' bin that is just a regular bin with a scented liner... and that does the job well enough too. With change tables, I love mine, as even though I don't have back problems... I find bending over to pick her up off the floor a bit strenuous, and I do make sure never to leave her unattended on it, just in case ! ------------- Jacquie - Mama to Erin, 13.07.06 - Chief Cat Chaser & Marmite Sammie Eater 
Love many, trust few, harm none. ~Anon~ |
Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 24 August 2006 at 10:34pm
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I was originally not for change tables (not against, but couldn't have given a stuff about them myself) but having used one a couple of times for Han... I'd definitely get one next time. Even just to have a "place" for changing... instead of being my usual messy self and having stuff strewn all over the house. (Though I'm not sure a change table is going to solve that problem )
Anyway... if you have the extra cash... I'd say it'd be one of those things you wouldn't regret (but not essential [if you don't have back probs]) |
Posted By: Jennz
Date Posted: 25 August 2006 at 12:28am
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Hehe I think everyone finds different things useful. I personally found a nappy bin worth its weight in gold, when I stayed at my Mums without it I hated not having it. I found a breastfeeding pillow sooooo much better than a tri pillow- the thing that made it good for me is that it held her up higher so I didn't have to hunch down to feed her. Also I found the change table great but have heard of other that hardly used theirs.
I think with things like that which you aren't too sure if you're going to use it maybe get the cheaper versions so you haven't wasted alot of money if you don't end up using it. Ie don't invest in the $300+ matching wood change table, just get the cheapy $40 plastic one, they do the same job. I used sterilising tabs but would get a microwave one if I did it again as I think they are way more work. We didn't really use the baby bath as she preferred showers and she got too big for it really quickly. ------------- Jen, Charlotte 7 & Kate 3 
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Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 25 August 2006 at 7:40am
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I'm another one who never had a changing table. But must admit we had cot bumpers and they were great. Every so often I'd take them off thinking Jake would be okay, and every night I'd get woken up as Jake got his foot or arm stuck in the cot sides. Not sure if we'll need them for Taine as he sleeps relatively still.
One thing was a waste for me - expensive dummies. Lewis' mum and dad bought him a range - and he went straight for the $1.60 one. HATED the others. |
Posted By: my2angels
Date Posted: 25 August 2006 at 8:17am
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We use self sterilising bottles this time round which are soo handy if you are going somewhere and forget to take enough bottles, all you need is hot water and a microwave plus you can do them as you use them rather than waiting for enough bottles to fill the steriliser. With Kobe we used the microwave steriliser and it was good, I prefer that to the sterilising tablets only bcause they smell so chemically to me I felt like I needed to be rinsing them all the time which of course means they arnt sterile anymore.
So far we havent used the change table this time round but will be soon. |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 25 August 2006 at 10:50am
I had a basic change table with Maya but this time have bought a fancy one with a bath. Not sure if it's a neccesity or if I've just bought into the hype but it LOOKS good  ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 25 August 2006 at 10:51am
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Oh and the Safety Sleep was legendary - Maya stayed in hers till she was about 9 mths or so. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: nicola86
Date Posted: 25 August 2006 at 11:06am
Jakes bouncer! He loves the thing and it keeps him busy if i need to do something 
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Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 25 August 2006 at 3:51pm
I just used a tri-pillow for bfing, but now use nothing. It seemed to do the job. Never used any nipple cream beforehand, but used Lansinoh afterwards for cracks  Um, change table, never used one and have had no probs with the floor. I never change Hannah in her room anyway, always in the lounge by the fire so all her nappies and flannels etc are out there. And I agree with Deb, wipes arent a neccessity - flannels and water do just fine. We have a basic monitor which I leave off - during the night if I wake up I just turn it on and I can hear her breathing so saves me from getting out of bed to check on her. If I didnt have it that would be fine tho. WE were given a second hand safety sleep, used to use it when she was wrapped to stop her unwrapping herself, but dont use it now. Maybe it she starts to stand up I will get it out again. If I ever use bottles (very rarely) I have some microwave sterilising bags from the states which are very cool - love them.------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: ellabellame
Date Posted: 25 August 2006 at 8:17pm
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i bought a baby bath but never used it. i just always had a bath with mikey, it was a good way for me to fit in a wash when i didn't always have time to have a shower, and mikey hated having baths by himself until he could sit up. ------------- |
Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 26 August 2006 at 10:42am
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For dirty nappies i just use a plain old plastic bag and every night i put it in the ouside rubbish bin. It doesn't seem to smell.
I use lansinoh still as my nips sometimes get quite dry. We had a change table/bath it was great for the baby bath but i hardly used it as a change table and now i have taken the top off and have it next to the couch with all the nappies and stuff on the shelves. Much tidier than all over the floor. I use wipes we use the cherish ones which are about $8 for 2 packs of 80. I like them cos they take away the smell. |
Posted By: k&jsmum
Date Posted: 26 August 2006 at 2:31pm
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I loved my baby monitor and had to have it as have hearing loss in one ear so was paranoid that i wouldnt hear the boys. Also got them the Angelcare Movement Monitors which I wasnt intending to get but jaidyn had a stop breathing type siezure thing just before we came home from the hospital so it was great for piece of mind and they didnt go off heaps. In fact I think they went off no more 5 times combined in the 10 months they were used.
I changed to flannels also for the boys cheaper and no chemicals. Jolly jumper fantastic for entertaining 2 bubs when you need a break!!! Had Safety Sleeps for the boys and didnt really rate them. Used then for about 2 months when they were in the cot but the boys used to get out of them. Tried again when they went to beds and didnt work for the boys. Had a change table but wasnt worried either way if i had it or not. Was given to us. Oh the bath seats for when the boys got older and could put them both in together. ------------- Marlene Keegan ~ 14 October 2003 Jaidyn ~ 14 October 2003 |
Posted By: my2angels
Date Posted: 26 August 2006 at 5:54pm
| My dad brought us a breathing monitor for Kobe cos he was prem, it was fantastic and never went off once unless we took him out and forgot to turn it off which happened a lot but at least it meant it was working. I was sooo paranoid that I didnt stop using it till he went into his big boys bed. We are using it for Addison too. The thing I like about them is you can just use one pad for the bassinett and then both for the cot. One point though, my sister and friend both brought the sound and breathing monitor which you have to plug into a power outlet and I didnt really know if I liked the idea of power going into his bed but we have just got the breathing monitor and that runs of batteries. |
Posted By: Peace
Date Posted: 27 August 2006 at 9:51am
Just a couple of normal pillows or a tri pillow are good. I only BF in hospital (my milk didn't come in which was discovered when I left) and took along with me my special breast feeding buzzy bee pillow, unfortunately our bodies are all shaped differently and the darn pillow can be shaped, plumped and flattens out easily. Although it was good when I got home, sitting up in bed at night it gave my back good support when feeding DD. Nipple cream's I used avent and colostrum. Worked a treat! Stuff you can do without: Agreed on the nappy bin thing, I have one and even though it can help it's cheaper and far easier to get those scented bags and just biff them in with your usual bin, no fussing about with dials and what-not. Must haves: portacot, over the head bibs and huggies change mat's! The portacot and bibs are pretty self explainatory, the change mat's I was given as a present and OMG I cut them up and use them for nappy off time and tummy time - legendary. ------------- DD1 May 2006 DD2 March 2011 DD3 August 2012 |
Andie wrote:Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 27 August 2006 at 10:24am
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Robyn the movement and breathing one can take batteries to We have them in them incase the power dies.
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