Good topic!

Without using the same ones already mentioned, I love my baby safe feeder. Not only does dd get some fresh veg/fruits but freezing them and it's a teether!! I too didn't use the big diaper bag I HAD to have, I use the hospital free one! Right now at almost 6 mos. I love the exersaucer, high chair, johnny jump up for keeping her occupied while I cook or do my mommysavers!

I read the "Love You Forever" for the first time OUTLOUD when doing student teaching, about 12 years ago. I couldn't get through it. A student had to go get me a tissue. HOW SAD and how REAL.

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I agree with a few others, the Diaper Genie diaper pail was a big waste of money and didn't,in my opinion,cut down on the smell. Those special angled bottles that are supposed to help eliminated excess gas bubbles in baby's tummies.......another waste, sure didn't work on my kids!
The johnny jump up item Shabin mentioned was a favorite for both my kids!! Set them in one of those and i knew i had atleast 1 hour of free time and they were happy and occupied!

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"Go on, get outside, get the stink blown off ya!!"

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How old was your baby when you started using the safe feeder?

If you're nursing: My Brest Friend - a winner, and if you buy the inflatable one for travel, the same cover fits on the normal one. *Also, I used the Medela Pump in Style with my first when I was working, and it was great, but I stay home with my second and I use Avent's manual pump - I bought 2 of them for around $35 each so I always have one ready. It's much more convenient, just as quick and gentle as the Medela.

Changing pad and very soft covers - fuzzy, not terry, at babiesrus. A friend told me I wouldn't need the table, as I would use the floor, the bed, etc., and I'm glad I didn't listen to her. I need it with my back.

Wipe warmer - I know not all agree, but especially for when they are so little, and whether you live in a cool climate or not (A/C makes things cold), you need it. *Pampers sensitive wipes and Baby Dry diapers - those diapers hold a lot - the Swaddlers are wonderful for when baby is young - very soft.

Not used: The swaddlers that snap together - she grew out of them so quickly, and it was actually quicker for me to use a blanket. Many babies want their arms out anyway. *Also, not a lot of cute outfits needed in the early months. *They're fun, but you change baby so often, they really only get used for pictures. *Onesies are what my daughter lives in unless we go out.

Buy a good high chair when it's time (4months about), 'cause you'll use it for years, but don't pay a lot. We bought the Peg Perego with my first and it has so many nooks and crannies to catch food, including an opening in the tray RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE BABY where food gets inside the tray, which you can't take apart to clean. They now have a different setup, but I still hear complaints. The seat mildews and is not machine washable. I was going to replace the seat and tray, as my husband was insisting I not buy a new one, but it will cost me $97 to replace both, plus shipping. I will buy a new chair, instead, probably the Fisher Price Healthy High chair.

Try to get a used swing. We bought the almost $100 Fisher Price Aquarium swing and she loved it! But she outgrew it at 5 months, so I sold it for $40. I could go on, but I'll stop now. I did so much research, feel free to pm me if you want.

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My favorites are the swing of course, the exersaucer now that he is older and more playful, sleepsacks(we used these since he was born in December, but you aren't supposed to use blankets), my avent bottles/sippy cups.(I love these because you can switch the top to a nipple or a sipply cup top. Simon is only six months and already starting to use the sippy). I also opted to not buy the stroller travel system. Since he was born in Dec. and it isn't warm here in winter I knew by the time we would use a stroller he would sit in the regular seat. We instead got a nice lightweight stroller at BRU for $40.00. It works great!

My dislikes: We bought an Eddie Bauer snuggly that you wear to carry baby. Simon hates it and will not get in it for nothing!
I opted to not get a wipes warmer either. You can warm them just as well in your hand and they have been known to cause lots of house fires. We also didn't get a bottle warmer. We just warmed Simons under the hot water faucet for a minute.

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~AMY~

Must haves.... the jonny jumper doorway thing, and an outside swing

regrets: bassinette (sp!) & expensive bedding. I like the theme that goes w/ my bedding (sir leaps a lot!) --- but I think buying the accessories and getting crib sheets in the right color could have done the trick. Those bumpers were a waste!

must haves for me:
-our co-sleeper/pack&play. I had a hard delivery with our son, so the aftermath wasn't pretty. It was soooo nice to have that co-sleeper tied to my side of the bed and slide him over to me, nurse him, and slide him back. He was a great baby though, so maybe if the next one is harder at night, we'll try a bassinnet or crib, but the co-sleeper is my first choice.
-a baby sleeping bag. my DH's aunt gave it to us, and it was literally a baby's version of a sleeping bag.. no arm holes or anything like some of the ones they have now. DS LOVED that thing. he'd sleep anywhere in it.
- a stockpile of diapers before DS was born -- saved me from sending my DH to the store only to return with $50 of junk and the wrong size/brand diapers!
-the baby sleepers that had the elastic at the bottom, not the snaps.. made changing SO much easier
-cloth diapers for burp cloths -- VERY absorbent!
-portable baby swing: let me shower, take him next dr to my in-laws while he was still sleeping, and was portable to take to church, out of state to my parents house, etc. no way would i EVER buy a huge bulky swing.

regrets:
-not trying cloth wipes from the beginning.
-baby bouncer.. my DS never used it. he hated it.
-baby wipes warmer - it made some wipes sopping wet and others dried out.
-we didn't use his changing table much. we often just changed him wherever we were (living room, etc), by throwing a receiving blanket on the floor and changing him real quick. but the changing table is a dresser too, so we used it that way.
-diaperbags. i thought it was great to get a huge diaperbag, and then once i had it, i was constantly trying to pare down the size of our junk that we carried around. i used the hospital one and if i was going somewhere for a short period of time (store, church, etc), i would put a couple diapers, a clean outfit, some wipes, diapercream, extra nursing pads, a burpcloth and a receiving blanket into the enfamil foldover thing they gave me at the hospital (it came with a sample of formula in it.. has three pockets and folds in thirds). i LOVED that thing.
- oh, and nuk clips. the good ones with the metal clips on the back. couldn't live without those things.

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~~Amanda~~
Mommy to one Little Man (3 1/2 yrs old), FINALLY expecting #2!!! (due around Memorial Day 2009) *adoption has been put on hold*

Honestly, we hardly ever used DS#2's crib. he was either in his bassinet, pack n play, or our bed. As soon as he was laid in his crib, he SCREAMED! Thankfully, it was borrowed

Biggest waste of money were those toys that arch over baby. Only interested for a few minutes and hated it after a few days.

I could not live without the pack n play, sling, diaper bag (heavy duty - no more plasticy for me!) onesies and one piece outfits.

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Praying for Kimmy: www.caringbridge.org/visit/kimberlyfroelich

Must have: Baby Bjorn baby carrier. I loved being "hands free" while shopping but still have my son close to me.

Regret: Choosing a theme for his room. Oh sure...Winnie the Pooh was cute when he was a baby. But now he's 3 and is only interested in Thomas the Train and the characters from the CARS movie and any type of Hot Wheels cars. I'm dreading the day when we actually switch his room to something else and have to remove the wall border -