A New Mom's Question - What do we need?

Question:

My husband and I took our first a trip to Babies R Us as an expecting couple and were astonished at how much stuff you need for a baby! My husband said that he half expected the high chairs to all of a sudden get up and start walking to go take over the world. Since then, we have been asking friends and family what are the most essential things we should get to be able to take care of a baby. We have limited room in our apartment and want to only get those things that we will need. My husband is more interested in what we need as far as big items go, and I am more interested in what we need as far as how many bottles, etc. - Joanna from Brookline, MA

From Adrienne:
Joanna: Congratulations on you pending bundle of joy! I have created a bare bones list of absolute essentials to get you started. Just remember, getting started will occupy about 3 months of your new little one's life. After that, it's all bets off the table as baby grows and grows and grows.... her needs will start to change as she will no longer be brand new. But first things first.

I am tailoring this list to accomodate living in a small apartment in the city.

Things you will want to buy for yourself

• A Car Seat and Stroller:
  Consumer Reports rates Chicco very well. It is my opinion that you will want good quality (ie, spend a little bit for this). You can combine the purchase into a "travel system".
  For a description of my favorite, see The Chicco Cortina Travel System.
  The store that I found in your area is The Right Start and has a location in Natick.
  
  For a walking city with a need for some car rides, this looks like a really good buy at $319.
  
  
• A Baby Bouncer:
  This will provide a safe place for your baby to sit and watch your activities during the day. Consumer Reports rates the Fisher Price Rainforest (at $43.00) very well. This is also available from The Right Start. An additional feature of this bouncer is a vibrator that will help calm a fussy baby when you are trying to fix dinner.






• A Crib:
  Baby needs a bed! Consumer Reports rates the Ikea Leksvik as a sturdy and safe bed made from renewable materials that will convert to a toddler bed later. It is a deal at $159. There are two types of cribs made these days - those with adjustable sides and those with stationary sides. After having two kids of my own and having seen some of the safety issues that can occur with adjustable sides, I recommend the stationary sides - which what Leksvik is.
  
• A Baby Bath:
  Little one needs a bath! The Baby Cacoon Bath from The Right Start will not be a space hog, and yet will hold your baby until he is several months old. At $24.99, this is my favorite.




• Bottles:
  Consumer Reports recommends glass bottles. However, I found a safe alternative at The Right Start - The Adiri Natural Nurser Ultimate Bottle is 100% polycarbonate-free and bisphenol-A free. The Right Start also has glass bottles.


Things you will want to wait until after your baby shower


• blankets
• clothing


Things you don't want to buy at all! Your baby will outgrow by week one

• newborn sized clothes

I will work on recommendations for your clothing and baby toy needs. A good gift to ask for would be a subscription to Consumer Reports online. This is an invaluable tool to pre-shopping, and has safety ratings, as well as the latest recall information.

For now! Adrienne

Kids and the Economy

"Mommy, Daddy, the sky is falling..."

How do we reassure our kids in these days of economic crisis? How do we talk to them when we are scared ourselves? Here are 5 tips that will help.

1. Remind our little ones that we will always love them.
2. Tell them that it is Mommy's and Daddy's job to worry about money. Their job is to go to school and to learn as much as they can. If they can focus on their job, you can focus on yours.
3. Remember that time well spent with your kids is far more important than buying them "things". Instead of going to McDonald's for dinner, have them help you make a simple dinner at home. Even grilled cheese and a can of soup is time well spent and money well saved.
4. Work to create memories with your kids. A walk to the park can be meaningful. Tossing a ball in the backyard is unforgettable.
5. Take care of yourself. Take time to relax, meditate, and let go of your adult stresses. Kids feel and sense far more than you tell them.

More Recalls

Parents, Alert! More recalls from the FDA!

Two new FDA recalls have recently passed through the news wires.... Mr. Brown instant coffee and milk tea products and White Rabbit Candy. Since it is our job as parents to protect our children, I recommend you sign up for email alerts from the FDA. I will work on finding other sources of children's product recalls and will provide that information as I can.

In today's global economy, we must be alert to all potential issues that face our children. My children are young adults now, but I have other youngsters in my life. Life was a bit simpler 20 years ago! It was easier to know the details of all threats.

Are Plastic Baby Bottles Safe?

I listened to the news last night with concern. More and more plastic bottles are being proven unsafe to use because of the levels of bisphenol a (BPA). I went looking for more information on this potentially unhealthy compound, and wound up at the FDA's website. It says:

Message for Consumers
At this time, FDA is not recommending that anyone discontinue using products that contain BPA while we continue our risk assessment process. However, concerned consumers should know that several alternatives to polycarbonate baby bottles exist, including glass baby bottles.

Pretty scary! My sister is expecting a baby next March, and my grown daughter drinks from plastic water bottles every day. Below are some links to help explore the topic of BPA.

• FDA re: Bisphenol A
• MSNBC News re: Baby Bottles
• Wikipedia re: Bisphenol A

As quoted on MSNBC News, Laura Tarantino of the FDA says:

"...consumers can avoid plastic containers imprinted with the recycling number ’7,’ as many of those contain BPA." "...They can avoid warming food in such containers, as heat helps to release the chemical."

Welcome Moms and Dads!

Welcome to Addy's Place for Moms and Dads! I have spend most of my life caring for children - my sisters, my own two kids, and my two girls. I welcome your comments, thoughts and questions.