I'm having a C-Section in 3 days. I'm not into "saving money" right now like I was a week ago. I'm more into "please don't make me get off this couch" mode. So I have not been checking in with you guys.
Though one thing that is interesting is my sudden about change regarding baby consumerism.
Up until a week ago I was the pregnant lady who was content to let her baby bang pots and pans together and play with boxes. My baby didn't need all the stuff Target tried to sell me.
Then suddenly I panicked. I heard one to many stories about a baby screaming for 40 hours straight from colic. About a baby screaming for hours because they wouldnt take the pacifier given to them. Refusing to breast feed (or getting sick from breast milk) and taking formula only. Specific brand of formula making baby sick and more screaming.
I DO NOT WANT A SCREAMING BABY. I will buy whatever it takes to avoid 40 hours of straight screaming.
So suddenly it occured to me that I better have all these items on hand "just in case" I needed them. Its easier to buy them now than it is when the baby is screaming.
So I own 11 different pacifiers (because baby might only like a certain brand, so you better have it on hand.) I have 5 bottles even though I plan to breast feed and 2 different brands of formula. I have 17 cloth diapers...but in case that doesn't work out I also have 200 disposable diapers. I have a changing pad in the nursery and another downstairs. I have a crib in the nursery and a pack n play downstairs. I bought a CD player to play soothing baby white noise, but also picked up some classical music CDs for her as well. And then I also have all other baby essentials...I think.
I think I have spent about $1000 on this baby so far and she is not even born. (I bought all her clothes used.)
I am SHOPPED OUT. I feel like Consumerism at its strongest. I hope I never need to go to a baby store again. And if I hear husband say "we need to buy..." I will collapse.
ok, so this might be my last post for a while. I'll be back...maybe when the baby is a few weeks old.
Any baby advice, feel free to post it! As a first time mom I'm kind of lost.
Baby Baby Baby
October 25th, 2013 at 01:51 pm
October 25th, 2013 at 02:00 pm 1382709659
As a mum of a 19 month old girl I don't have lots of advice, since I'm still learning too. I've learned that there's something new to learn at each stage. One thing I will say though is sleep when your little girl sleeps - yes you might want to catch up on housework but it's best to get your rest when you can. A happy mummy = happy baby. Oh, and accept any offers of help that you get.
October 25th, 2013 at 02:32 pm 1382711574
Oh, and in IMO thumbs are better than pacifiers because they never get lost or picked up by the dog. Baby will likely come equipped with two of those. If baby doesn't care for thumbs, she'll probably have eight other natural built-in pacifiers to try.
October 25th, 2013 at 02:47 pm 1382712423
October 25th, 2013 at 02:48 pm 1382712538
As far as spending, I think there is something hormonal about going off the deep end. When I was pregnant, I was determined to keep "baby stuff" to a minimum. However, after he was born, I lost all reason and went on incredible high-end shopping spree. His onesies were $40 a piece, his first year bunting jacket was like $300, and so on. And the toys overrun our place completely. I don't know what happened to me -- must have been the result of massive chronic sleep deprivation (I was determined to breastfeed exclusively, so it meant feeding every 2 hours and that is not a fast process.)
October 25th, 2013 at 04:55 pm 1382720111
The lifesavers for us when we had babies: a Brest Friend nursing pillow, a lightweight buzzy bouncy seat with a handle so it could be carried around (even into the bathroom), a sleep sack so baby stayed warm, a Bjorn carrier for when they were strong enough to hold their heads up.
A pacifier strap was great for the first one (2nd wouldn't take a pacifier and still sucks her hand at 19 months--bummer!), and a white-noise app on the iPod (we'd leave it in her room, and the ocean sound coming into ours from the baby monitor also reassured me it was working).
Oh, and breastfeeding is great -- it's healthy, environmentally sound and cost-effective too! -- but there is NOTHING wrong with using formula if it doesn't work out!
October 25th, 2013 at 06:18 pm 1382725081
I have no advice. I only ask you to remember that we were all babies once, and in all but abusive situations, we all managed to get out, stay out, and develop into fine upstanding citizens. Even during primitive times when there was no same day shipping.
October 25th, 2013 at 07:11 pm 1382728263
October 25th, 2013 at 08:46 pm 1382733997
October 29th, 2013 at 12:31 pm 1383049863
October 31st, 2013 at 11:15 pm 1383261308
November 1st, 2013 at 11:30 pm 1383348638