I have heard good things about good start! I BF so I have no knowliedge other than what my frineds use

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Kelly mom to 3 great girls

I used Good Start with DS and it worked really well. He didn't do well with the Parent's Choice, but he tolerated the Target brand fine. You can also go online and sign up for free samples of diapers and coupons at all the diaper websites. Go to gerber.com and sign up for their mailings and you will get tons of coupons for baby food. Also, check freecycle for your area. There are always people on mine giving away baby items. Good luck and congratulations!

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Brandy, SAHM to Jodi & Andrew

Congratulations! I really can't think of other things that you "need". Eventually you will need a high chair-get one of the ones that straps on your dining chairs. Quite a space saver! I personally didn't like the sleeping gowns. I prefered the ones that zipped up and keep their feet covered. DD always kicked her feet out! Oh and you might want to get some first aid stuff-finger nail clippers, nasle asperator, nasle sailne solution, thermoter, and some gripe water (perfect for a gassy baby or for when they just have an upset tummy). You shouldn't use children's Tylenoal or Baby Rub (Vickks) until they are about 3 months but it something to consider getting.

As for formula, I used Nestlee Good Start. You can find it pretty cheap on Ebay if you look around. It can sometimes be a big chunk of change upfront but the cost per can is a lot cheaper (I normally bought it for $8/can vers $15 in the store). With this baby I'm going to try the generic brand but I haven't yet figured out the cost per ounce in the store vs ebay. Sometime you just have to look around.

Come on down to the Family Matters subforum: TTC, Pregnancy, & Babies. The ladies there offer tons of advice and we're always talking about our kids. Its especially great when you need some advice when you just want to pull your hair out!

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I think clothes, crib, changing table, playpen, play gym, bottles, high chair, diapers, and wipes. Were my main necessities. I never used a baby tub it was easier to take my DD in the tub with me and wash her on my lap. I also thought cloth diapering was much cheaper than buying disposable. I used All free and clear detergent for our wash and had no problems.
Not sure if you have considered breast feeding or not. When I was having production issues I heard of a few adoptive mothers that took Domperidone and got in a full milk supply. It is a controversial issue as this drug is not FDA approved in the USA, but you may want to look into Canadian studies if you are interested.

A tip on saving money on formula.....ask your pediatrician for samples, before going out and buying on your own. That way you can try a few different ones to see which one works for your little one, before forking out the money. And if you happen to be seeing your OB, ask them for samples too. Both get free sample cans from the manufacturers to give out to new moms.

Both my kids were lactose intolerant the first year of life. My son took Similac Soy and then later Nestle Goodstart Soy. My daughter could only drink Similac Sensitive/Lactose Free. Everything else either gave her major gas or major diaper rash.

Sandra

I feel that these are a must.....
1) Swing
2) Bouncy seat
3) Born Free Bottles....they are a safer plastic
4) A nice floor mat.....the kind that have the toys that hang over them that attach to the mat.
5) Burp rags
6) Crib or playpen
7) Butt paste...for diaper rash


That's really all i can think of. You won't need a high chair or changing table. I never used the changing table. It was easier to get a pad and do it on the floor...cheaper too. High chairs take up too much room. Get a booster that fits on a chair later on. Bumbos are good but they don't stay in them very long.

Congratulations on your new little one.

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Jodie....Wife to Andrew (1995)
Mommy to Riley (2000) and Wyatt (2003)

google kids resale events in your area. we have 8 in the next two months. they are great for getting gently used items for less. babies can be finicky and not like things (ie: DS hated his bouncy seat, which often seems like a must-have) so if you get things gently used for less $, and don't use it, you aren't out as much (and you can resell it at a spring kids resale to get your money back!). You really can get away with being very minimal with baby items.

Also, if you're a one-income family and aren't already on it, please check into WIC. You can get formula through it, and it will help with your groceries. Once you decide on the formula you want to use, email the company and ask them for coupons too.

Congrats! We are just starting the adoption process and hope to be in your shoes this coming spring!

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I use a Diaper Genie, but it could feasibly be skipped and replaced with a trash can & bag.
I got a changing table/dresser combo which made it easy to get into the dresser drawers without turning my back or going across the room to get an outfit.
For diapers, Parents Choice work fine during the day, but find some coupons and use Huggies and Pampers at night...far fewer leaks & messes!
I use Parent's Choice formula as well, less than half the price of name brand formulas.
Again on wipes, I use Parent's Choice. A wipes warmer is not neccessary.
A swing or bouncer was neccessary for my sanity...haha. When nothing else would calm my DD down, rocking the swing or bouncer would put her to sleep. But cheap ones can be found at consignment sales or garage sales...I borrowed both of mine from a neighbor.
I'm just now finishing my first bottle of shampoo and the first bottle of baby body wash...Gerber Grin & Giggles regular size has lasted 11 months!
One or two "big" toys are useful, such as a walker, activity table, walker-to-wagon, etc. but again, I got all mine at consignment or garage sales.
Nature's Goodness is the cheapest baby food I can find, although Gerber occasionally has good coupons or Walmart will have a good rollback on them.
A stroller is neccessary...umbrella strollers are hardly useful until the child is not only big enough to sit up alone (due to lack of support by the stroller) and about 15 lbs (or the stroller could collapse with the child inside). I have a travel system from TRU that has been wonderful!
We also have an aquarium on the side of the crib that is turned on simply by pushing a button and stays on for 10 minutes...it is so much better than the mobile! It provides soothing sounds for DD to fall asleep to and we don't have to stand there and constantly twist the knob on the mobile!
If you are in a small house, monitors are probably not neccessary unless you plan to go outside during the child's nap...that was the only time we used our monitors because we could hear her inside our apartment.

I can't think of anything else right now, but hope those help you! Good luck & God Bless!

Ok- if you want the real basics, you need:
a car seat, diapers, blankets, a few onsies and sleepers, formula and bottles, and either a crib or a playpen or a basinet.
I see a whole lot of people listing huge long lists, but for a new born, most things really are extras. the one extra beyond this list that i got right at first was a swing. you can add on a little bit at a time when the baby is ready to have new stuff. for instance- a newborn is not going to need a highchair! So why buy a highchair right away? space out your expenses to when you actually need each new item. Also, if you have lots of friends or family- most of them will want to contribute something, as will lots of the people that were involved with the adoption process. And if anybody asks what they can give you, suggest target gift cards, that way they can pick whatever amount they want to give, and you can save them up for big things, or use them for diapers or formula when you are having a tight week.

Congratulations!
ALmost everyone has listed the basics and some extras. You new little one needs diapers, clothes, a place to sleep, something to eat, and a way to ride in the car. Everything else is extra, though some of those extras are really quite helpful. My ds hated the swing that everyone else seemed to love. He adored his floor "gym."
If you have a CVS/Walgreens near you, they frequently have diaper deals -- usually for the store brand. I don't know about Rite Aid, but I'm sure they do, too.
And sign up on the web site of every baby product you can think of: Huggies, Pampers, Gerber Beech-nut, Johnson & Johnson, etc. You'll get tons of coupons and samples.

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~Jeweled