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Baby proofing your home

Bringing Home
Baby
 What you really need for your nursery and home.

 By Mary Ellen Stancill 
Baby nurseries are big business. But with an extensive list of options, it can be hard to know where to spend your money to help you navigate the first few months of parenthood and when to pass on a product in favor of depositing your cash somewhere else—for instance, in your child’s college fund.

Check out these tips from our chosen expert, Rhonda Smith, the mother of three children, ages 3 years old, almost 2 years old and 6 months old—or check with an expert you know. Mothers of small children know what it takes to make it through the day and are happy to help others navigate the waters as well. Advice from Rhonda when preparing a nursery:

When registering for baby gifts and items for your nursery, take a friend who has had a baby recently. She’ll be able to help you choose between the 20 options of high chairs and remind you not to overlook smaller yet necessary items such as bottles or pacifiers.

Products change quickly, so even someone with a 5-year-old might not be as well-versed in the current offerings as the mother of an infant. Hang a mirror over your changing table. As you deal with dirty diapers, the mirror will prove entertaining for your baby, especially once they get to about the 6 month mark.

A changing table purchased from a baby store will be the perfect height when dealing with all the dirty diapers but using a dresser is a great, cost-effective alternative because it can remain in your child’s room for years to come.

Spend money on a nice chair for you and a good, firm mattress (and less on the crib if you have to choose) for your baby. Rhonda loves her “big, fat, overstuff glider.” A hard, wooden chair is not as comfortable—especially for late night feedings. A firm mattress helps reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Make the baby’s bed a place he wants to be. Naps can be hard at first, so a mirror and other toys that attach to the inside of the crib will entertain your baby before he falls asleep. Of course, you’ll want to buy some new things but don’t be afraid to shop for second hand items. Several large consignment sales for mothers and children are held throughout the year in our area (see our May budget feature for details).

Items you can forgo:
•Wipe warmer—“They dry out your wipes ... and the baby is fine with a normal wipe!”
•Bottle warmer—warm water from the faucet works just as well
•Fancy diaper pail—get a diaper pail that uses regular trash bags rather than specialty trash bags. This will save you $30 trips to buy special trash bags.
•Heavy blankets—Need plenty of the lightweight receiving blankets but not as many of the heavier blankets
•Three different strollers—although a jogging stroller is great
•Bassinette—most travel cribs, such as Pack ‘n Plays, come with a bassinette attachment that works just as well

Items worth the money and necessary for survival:
•Bouncy seat
•Swing—preferably one that cradles the baby, so even an infant will enjoy it. Rhonda acknowledges that other moms might disagree with this one because they would rather not have a house full of equipment. But she says that with three little ones, “Making it through the day is more important than somebody walking in and seeing an exersaucer.”
•Quality breast pump if you plan to breast feed—“because it really does work more quickly”
•Baby carrier that straps on your front or back—this didn’t prove necessary until she had an infant to transport and a toddler to chase

Items you need that nobody thinks to tell you:
•Digital alarm clock that can be seen at night for the nursery—helpful for middle of the night feedings and diaper changes
•D batteries—stock up gradually before your baby is born because many toys and pieces of equipment rely on batteries to sing, twirl, spin and light-up
•Small Phillips-head screwdriver—to get into the toys to replace D batteries

Toys and small items:
•Floor gym (for infants before they can crawl)
•Baby Einstein or Praise Baby DVDs
•Bumbo Baby Sitter seat
•Sleep positioner
•Good pair of baby nail clippers
•Toys that attach to the baby’s carrier
•Booster chair

Baby shower gifts Rhonda recommends:
•Layette gowns
•Small wash cloths
•Small totes for church or Mother’s Day Out
•Larger gear—an easy and much appreciated option if you don’t know whether the baby is a boy or a girl
•Keep forever items like silver baby cups and spoons for very special friends and family.
January Birmingham, Alabama

  

 
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