That startling moment when you realize that you’re 30 weeks pregnant and your baby will be here in 10 weeks or less. And suddenly you feel a little freeeeeeeaked out!
Photos compliments of KNW Photography
Outfit Details:
Plaid button-up shirt: Old Navy, c/o {similar} | Sweater: Thrifted | Jeans: AG Jeans {buy here} | Riding boots: Enzo Angiolini {buy here} | Handbag: Target {similar}
Guys, I feel like there is so much to do. In true Shannon Willardson fashion, I of course haven’t purchased basically anything yet. We still have to get a stroller, a car seat, a high-chair, a crib, a bassinet, a diaper bag, not to mention all the little things – bottles, pacifiers, diapers, baby wipes, and allllllll the things I don’t even realize I need. HELP!
Veteran mommies, I’d LOVE your suggestions on strollers, high chairs, car seats, and other baby essentials. Share your wisdom and help this lost little lamb out – please?! And thank you!
Have a Thelma and Louise Thursday!
Thanks for reading {and commenting!}
Love! So pretty!
The Style Storm
<3, Christina
OK, strap a seat belt on because this is going to be a long one! This might sound weird, but, go for a double stroller, or one that can convert from a single to a double. Because logically, unless you are only planning on having one child, there is going to be another child and then your going to have to get one later. I shelled $300 out on a single jogging stroller, which is going to be completely useless to me when baby #2 gets here. Kyle is still going to be in the age where he’ll need to be in a stroller, and then obviously the baby will need one too, so I think one that converts between the two is a great investment.
Burp cloths! Like a thousand of them! I had no idea how much stuff came out of everywhere when you have a baby, we seriously went through 5 burp cloths a day. (Luckily for you I happen to be awesome at sewing these and they’re my one claim to fame one a sewing machine, so expect some in the mail from me.)
A car seat that can clip into the stroller mentioned above, will be awesome! and most strollers are compatible with most car seats, (meaning they don’t have to be the same brand) but check before you buy, and sometimes you can save $100 if you buy them bundled together.
We loved these bottles: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Similac-SimplySmart-8-oz-Bottles-2-Pack-BPA-Free/17351063
These pacifiers: http://www.walmart.com/ip/NUK-Bold-Dots-Orthodontic-Boy-Size-1-Pacifiers-Set-of-4/22339990
Your insurance company will usually pay for you to get a bomb.com breast pump for free, so you should look into that… mine is sending me the beast medela brand $300 one for free after baby#2 gets here which will be a lifesaver (if your going this route… we totally formula fed Kyle his entire first life- no shame!)
High chairs are surprisingly crazy expensive (although there is one at Ikea for 20-30, so if you have an ikea, than totally get that one ;), at least in my opinion, we actually scored ours at a kmart going out of business for $30, so if there are stores going out of business around you, or since you won’t need it right away, just take the time to shop around! We were glad we did and saved about $70.
I hated myself for not splurging the extra money and buying these swaddling blankets: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12274125&mr:keyword=&mr:trackingCode=FB7B4B66-7315-E311-A497-90E2BA285E75&mr:match=&mr:adType=pla&mr:filter=56911891846&cagpspn=plab_11585282&mr:referralID=NA&mr:ad=35201211406&mr:device=c&camp=PLAPPC-_-PID11585282&KPID=11585282 they’re officially on the list for baby#2 and I refuse to not have them this time. The cheap 4 packs of flannel swaddling blankets at target and walmart, suck, don’t do it to yourself. (those blankets I mentioned are also available at target and walmart too)
K, thats all I can think of for now, I’m sure I might think of other things!
I had a baby shower last weekend, so we went from having NO things to TOO MANY things. I don’t know what I am going to do with 9 pink fuzzy blankets, but oh well. We don’t have a car seat yet either, but the most useful resources to me were Lucie’s List online and the book “Baby Bargains”. I ended up buying a Bob jogging stroller and a Skip Ho Duo diaper bag, but I have no idea if either are going to be functional.
You are the absolute cutest!
great boots! and you look darling
ladies in navy
Diapers and wipes: have you checked out Honest.com? They ship directly to your door, are similar to 7th generation and have the cutest patterns! Also, for products, I have been loving thewisebaby.com blog. Great product reviews and registry faves (and giveaways).
You look adorable! Love that top and lipstick!
Adorable sweater!!
xo Denise
lovelybohemian.blogspot.com
Girl, you make 30 weeks look good!! Hope I’m as glowing as you once I’m preggers! x
Best advice I ever got was to bypass all the baby holders (bumbo, jumpers, walkers, etc..) They take up room and from a Physical standpoint they restrict baby movement and are not good for them in the long run (this was from a Physical Therapist I work with) I preferred the baby carriers you wear to strollers as did my baby, so I got a very inexpensive one that was small from Graco for those times I really needed it. Also AMAZON MOM is awesome!!! They shipped me a box of diaper and it was awesome on the pocket book (even less than Walmart or Costco!!!) Being a mom is awesome and you will ROCK it!
Being the newest mommy in the world, I don’t know how seriously you should take my comments, but here is my two cents.
I have heard only the highest praise of the BOB jogging strollers. If you’re in to that sort of thing 🙂 I ended up getting one of the graco click connect travel systems, because I saved like 100 bucks to get the stroller and the car seat together.
I have a petunia picklebottom diaper bag, and I am OBSESSED with it. Like… OBSESSED.
The pacifier they gave at the hospital is the only one Oaklee likes, even though I bought like 5 other ones, it all just depends on what the little dude prefers, so that’s a hard one to suggest.
You need LOTS of swaddle blankets. The Aden and Aneis ones are SOOOO expensive though, so I ended up just making my own. I found the fabric online for 3 bucks a yard. Look here for all the different colors: https://www.fabric.com/SearchResults2.aspx?Source=Header&SearchText=island+breeze+gauze&CategoryID=1d5f47dc-9991-4088-93f3-26a376046a5e
You are going to be the best mommy! I can’t wait to see you rock it!
Hey lady! I’m so excited for you. So, the things I have learned so far: baby stuff can be crazy expensive and 2nd hand is totally the way to go for most things.
Over the summer, Adam and I hit up yard sales and scored some seriously great baby stuff. A car seat that had never been used, a stroller from a grandma that had used it twice, a metric shiz ton of kids books and even some clothing. One thing that you have to watch for when buying second hand baby gear is that it hasn’t been recalled, or if it has, did the company make a fix for it. My strolled had been recalled, but I called the manufacture (Graco) and they sent me a part that fixed the problem for free. I don’t know how the yard/estate sale market is in SF, but it can’t hurt to look.
I did buy a few things new, I got a 4moms Mamaroo baby swing. I did literally hours of research on this swing. It’s a dream. http://www.4moms.com/mamaroo. I haven’t used it on my own kid yet, (because he refuses to show his face) but my little sister’s two week old spent 3 hours straight in it yesterday. She loves the car ride motion.
Check with your insurance about a breast pump, it’s good to have one if you’re going back to work, or at the very least, to give you a few hours of alone time with the hubby. Thanks to Obamacare, you’re insurance should cover one 100%, but check to see if they require you to get one from a home health company rather than a store. They might also let you order one now as opposed to waiting until the baby comes. If you’re going to pump and build up a reserve of milk, these bags have crazy good reviews http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001EPQ1QW?tag=blself-20. You can freeze milk for 6 months in them, and they lie flat so they aren’t taking up all of your freezer space.
Also, if you haven’t started a baby registry yet, might I recommend http://babyli.st/index. It allows you to add things you want from any store. So if you are dying for a onsie from Esty, you can add it. You can also list prices for the same thing at different stores. Like if both target and babies r us have a stroller you like, list both places, then if someone wants to get it for you, they can shop where it’s most convenient for them. You can also register for gift cards and services like if someone wants to bring you a meal or two or come clean your house while you take a nap. It’s pretty cool. I have loved it.
Lastly, you should check out two blogs: 1. Pregnant Chicken (http://www.pregnantchicken.com/) it’s a real look at pregnancy and you can even sign up for a weekly email showing you how big your baby is that week. Bonus, it isn’t comparing your kid to a vegetable. It’s a bit irreverent at times, but it makes me giggle, and 2. Lucie’s list (http://www.lucieslist.com/). It has really good reviews of products and helpful hints on pregnancy, labor and after. There is a fantastic article about breastfeeding that helped me feel way less scared about it.
We were on a budget and so we didn’t go crazy with name brand stuff annnnnd it’s been just fine. We got the babytrend system and it worked great. I liked that the car seat had a super functional handle that made carrying easier and it was only $99. All car seats have to pass the same standards so the rest you pay is just for bells and whistles. Buying a double jogger seems like a smart idea for multiple kids. My sister in law as the Phil and Teds and it’s incredible. Can actually seat three children. I want it. But it’s pricey. High hair…IKEA!!! The seat is $20 and the tray $5. Collin and Dre have it to and just about everyone else I know. It’s plastic so it’s SO easy to clean. And you’ll be cleaning it lots :] bottles I prefer the playtex drop in nursery. Kate uses them with drue and Collin and Dre for Sof. They’re an awesome bottle. And really not a big deal to buy drop in liners (the up and up brand is cheap). Saylor preferred the latex nipple to silicone. Diapers I def prefer Huggies. They don’t feel as cheap as pampers do to me. But for newborn def get pampers. Size 1 and up, Huggies :] pacifiers and bottles can be trickier in general bc it will depend on what nipple he takes to. Saylor was picky so j went with what worked but we live the nuk ones. You’ll likely get lots of stuff at a baby shower too :] don’t stress yet. Oh. Also Aiden and anais swaddle blankets are LIFE CHANGING. Get them! And tip…use the double ply cloth diapers as burp cloths. They absorb so well and are the perfect burp rag :] yay for babies!!!
Shannon…..you are adorbs. And here is my two cents, but really….you need to listen to my two cents because I know what I’m talking about. 🙂
Do not get a Bjorn. Do not. Buy the Ergo. I have had both and oh my gosh……The ergo wins in every category. And Olive who is five can still ride in it at disneyland or hiking and its not even uncomfortable. It is worth every cent and I am so bummed I had a Bjorn with my first three.
http://store.ergobaby.com/baby-carrier
I second the double stroller thing plus an umbrella stroller. I love love love my maclaren umbrella stroller. The handles are higher than the cheap ones so Joey doesn’t have to bend over to push the thing. It also reclines and the seat extends so their legs and go out straight if they lay down. Worth the money. I got mine on Ebay new.
http://www.shopmaclarenbaby.com/Strollers/strollers,default,sc.html?q=quest
Blankets. You have to get the Aden and Anias swaddlers. Get the regular muslin ones for a tight swaddle, the bamboo ones for he softest fabric you will ever feel in your life, and you must get the bamboo dream blanket. The dream blanket is my favorite blanket ever! My kids all have one and my baby has two. They are bigger so they cover them in their crib once they are over one year old. Annnnnd, I might have my own I sleep with every night. Best thing ever.
Muslin swaddles…good for tight swaddling. http://www.adenandanais.com/en-us/product/4615/baby/swaddles/classic/4022/prince-charming-classic-swaddles.aspx
Bamboo Swaddles…so soft. http://www.adenandanais.com/en-us/product/4618/baby/swaddles/bamboo/9206/moonlight-bamboo-swaddles.aspx
Dream Blanket in bamboo….coziest blanket in the world. http://www.adenandanais.com/en-us/product/4627/baby/dream-blankets/bamboo/9304/moonlight-bead-solid-grey-bamboo-dream-blankets.aspx
Get the Nose Frida off amazon. So much better than the blue bulb thing. It will work wonders.
I use Mam pacis and have with all my babies. I use avent or playtex bottles. I loooooovvvve the playtex ventaire bottles. You never have to release it from their mouth while they are sucking to let the air go.
http://www.playtexbaby.com/Bottles/VentAire
I have the little Ikea highchair. Love it because it doesn’t take up a lot of room and there is no fabric. Its all one solid piece of plastic so its really easy and fast to wipe down. And I wipe that thing down a lot!
I never get the really expensive carseats because they grow out of them so fast and they get them sooooo nasty. I do Graco seats. If you find one that reclines good buy it. Having a carseat that reclines is the best.
OK, sorry. That was a lot. Im so excited for you. Good luck mama!!!!
I have a BOB jogging stroller but I had an Uppa Baby in Grand Cayman. I loved the Uppa Baby and highly recommend it. I wish I would have bought another one instead of the BOB. It comes with a bassinet which we used in our room till we transferred to the Crib. I say skip the bassinet, just get a pack an play wit a bassinet attachment, much more practical. We use the pack n play all the time, still and Ayla is almost 2. Never got a high chair, we use this booster: http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Healthy-Care-Deluxe-Booster/dp/B005IWM8PU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390512320&sr=8-1&keywords=feeding+chair it is awesome! Easy to clean, easy to store, and it is cheap! We just keep it strapped to a kitchen chair at the table, we have used it since we started ayla on solid food at 6 months and she still uses it.
Car Seats I really like Britax brand or Perego. I liked Britax a little better cause they are bigger and hold up to 35lbs so you can keep them in backward facing a little longer which is safer for them plus they are cheaper than perego. Each baby is different. Ayla loved the swing and her jumper and it was a life saver to have somewhere to put her where she was safe and happy. She hated every kind of swing or wrap, so I could never wear her. I bought both the swing and jumper on craiglist so they were super cheap and in great condition. I love aden and aneis blankets! They are expensive but so worth it in my opinion! Ayla loved to be swaddled and she would break free of everyother blanket and then she wouldn’t sleep as well.
Binkis, make sure you get the newborn size. I had bigger ones at first and Ayla would gag on them, but she liked the newborn ones and took them just fine.
Diaper Bags, jut make sure you can wipe it down or rinse it out, cause it will get messy. I have a picklebottom but it was so hard to clean. Then I got this great diaper bag from fossil and I love it, it has lots of pockets so I can keep everything organized so it is easy to find and it is super easy to clean.
Good Luck Girl! I know all this stuff is super overwhelming. I spent hours researching all the best baby gear when Ayla was born.
Your going to be a great mommy! I am so excited for you!
Ahh! I remember how close 30 weeks felt! So exciting!! We have the Chicco Keyfit 30 carseat and love it. We got the Chicco caddy stroller (carseat clicks in) and use it ALL the time. Very convenient to just pop the carseat in and go. We also have and love the BOB stroller we use for walks and other outdoor adventures. Totally don’t mean for this to be a shameless plug, but I did a post about some of my fave newborn gear a while ago (http://absolutelyextraordinary.wordpress.com/2013/12/04/my-top-six-newborn-gear/). While we found the Halo sleep sack held best, we love the aden + anais swaddle blankets for everything else (including now that she won’t be swaddled anymore!).
Apart from those, we use/love Pampers Swaddlers diapers. We got the Avent bottle starter set with a sterilizer. Also Avent pacifiers (our baby learned to take bottles and pacifiers in the same week, but not until around 3 months). We have the PB Kendall crib, never used a bassinet.
Gah I probably have a million other suggestions but these are first to mind. Feel free to email if you have questions! I’m a newish momma so have gone through this very recently.
I am 29 weeks and am right there with you. I’m having a baby shower this weekend therefore I was forced to register for stuff a couple of weeks ago only to find myself overwhelmed with selections and research on reviews of products.
Have you signed up for birthing classes and picked a pediatrician? I haven’t and was suddenly hit with that to do list and had hospital nightmares.
And I also went here: http://yummymummystore.com/ to get my free breast pump. Well, free with insurance. They ship in order of due dates.
Best of luck!
So I am only 23 weeks along but I actually already had two baby showers with family over Thanksgiving and Christmas, so I had to get the whole registry thing down early. So obviously I haven’t used any of this stuff yet and every baby and mom is different, but basically I just asked family members whose opinion/style/etc I feel like gels with mine and I learned a few things that have (will?) actually save us a bit of money. If my baby hates all of them, well, but I have heard good things.
So instead of getting a bassinet for when our little guy is born, my aunt (who is on her 4th pregnancy) recommended the Fisher-Price rock-n-play and said that she had something similar and none of her kids would sleep in anything else at first. Also, it is like $60 bucks, but I think you can usually get it on sale for around $50, which is approximately $100 dollars less than any of the bassinet type things I was looking at, if you are looking to go that route. I hear cribs don’t work for newborns, and I like to hog the bed too much to co-sleep, so…
The other great thing about it is it kind of works like a swing/bouncer/bassinet all in one, so I am not buying a swing or a bouncer now either! So not only do I now save several hundred dollars, I have less plastic stuff that honestly isn’t very good looking taking up space.
Also, since all the good looking high chairs are about 200+ dollars, I just got a booster seat. I think it’s also a Fisher-Price one? It was literally $30 dollars, and it straps onto a chair and has some plastic play toys your baby can play with while you cook. My sister-in-law recommended that, she has one and loves it. It takes up less space than a high chair and is sooo much cheaper.
Anyway, I like spending less on those things because then you can spend more on what is important to you…I am currently saving up all my money for a really beautiful and comfortable and functional upholstered Glider. So I don’t have to get one of those ugly wood ones.
Good luck! You’ll figure it all out!
I love the shirt
Totally agree with the gals who suggested picking up the latest copy of Baby Bargains – reviews of just about EVERY baby product you could need, all in one place (though that makes it a gigantic book which can be a little overwhelming, go through it in stages or you’ll go nuts!).
Also recommend either a BOB or Baby Jogger jogging stroller – very comparable in quality, price, smoothness of ride for kiddo. That is of course if you or your husband are runners, or even like to spend a lot of time walking. You’ll have to buy a frame to click the car seat into either brand of jogging stroller, but those are not terribly expensive.
Go with cloth diapers (the plain Gerber kind) for burp cloths – the miniscule dishrags marketed as burp cloths by most companies were clearly made by someone who has never seen how much can come out of a baby at any given moment! The cloth diapers are much bigger and thicker and will do a better job of protecting your and hubby’s clothes from milk / formula / poop / whatever else lil’ man decides to “share” with you.
For diaper rash, Boudreaux’s Butt Paste is the best – no offensive Desitin smell, works great, oh and can you think of a better name than Butt Paste??
When you’re picking a car seat, I’d suggest bringing one or two 10# bags of potatoes with you when you try them out. The seats feel light when empty but putting a human in there changes the game! So make sure you and your husband can carry it comfortably when it’s fully loaded. We loved our Chicco KeyFit 30 – it’s heavy, but it’s like driving your kid around in a tank, super safe!
When registering, think beyond the first six months. Eventually you’ll need a convertible car seat once your son outgrows the carrier. Diapers.com frequently has 20% or more off Britax (every few months or so); follow them on Facebook so you get the alerts. Amazon also has excellent prices on car seats.
If you’re going to shop for him, think seasonal weather and look for stuff in 6mo (and beyond) sizes. You’ll likely get a ton of newborn-6mo clothes from your shower, etc.
Last, check out Amazon Mom. Free Prime membership for the first 3 months, and then every time you spend $25 on baby stuff (E-Z to do!) you get an additional month of prime, up to a year. You can also do their Subscribe and Save program for diapers, wipes, etc. which means you get an automatic delivery of whatever products you subscribe to at an interval you request (every month, other month, etc). You usually get 20% off of those products you’re subscribed to, and it’s easy to change if necessary (need to size up in diapers, for example). They send you an email each month before they ship your product(s) saying, “Hey, we’re going to ship this in a few days, is it still what you want? If not let us know.” SUPER easy and convenient.
Good luck – you guys are going to have so much fun 🙂
I can not help out on the kid front but you are absolutely glowing!
I loved the aden + anais swaddle blankets – they were actually big enough to swaddle the baby, but light enough that I didn’t feel like I was overheating them. Plus I love using them as light blankets in the spring/summer/early fall when a heavier blanket out & about would have been too much. My boys are 2 1/2 & 1 now, and I still hang on to them. They’re just that great.
I also had the Itzbeen timer – here – https://www.google.com/search?q=itzabeen&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#q=itzbeen&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&spell=1
I brought that to the hospital with me because they (the nurses) ask you when the last feeding was, when the last wet diaper was. You are so overwhelemed by it all, that I never remembered. That timer was a life saver, I had the answers. Plus if you want to breast feed, it has a feature to let you know which side you left off on. I also liked that my husband could use it when I ran out on my own for a bit, and I would come back and be able to see when the last feeding/diaper change/nap was. Or how long he had been napping.
Also, a good bottle brush & drying rack if you’re going to be using bottles at all, and a basket to put in your dishwasher to sanitize anything. I still use the dishwasher basket to put sippy cup lids in so they don’t fall to the bottom of the dishwasher.
Stroller – when you’re looking for one, try to open it one handed, because most of the time, that’s how you’re going to be doing it. See how heavy it is to lift, because you’ll be doing that too. Also, try to get one that has a lot of space in the lower basket for storage, can it fit the diaper bag? I have a mommy hook that latches on to the handles of the stroller so I can just hang my purse/shopping bags from that. Also a great find.
Diapers – I had to buy Pampers with my first because it was “the best”. However, when you realize how quickly they go through them, I started buying Target’s brand “Up & Up” They work great, they’re pretty much the least expensive diaper brand on the market & if you have the Target Cartwheel app, you can get 5 – 10% off each box & more if you have the Target Redcard. Same goes for wipes. Buy store brand – they go through them like crazy.
Bath thermometers were a waste for me, I just tested the water with my hand, you’ll know if it’s too cold or too hot.
Highchair – we have the Fisher Price space saver high chair – this one – http://www.target.com/p/fisher-price-space-saver-high-chair-scatterbug/-/A-13873283. We have a bar height table and this let us put the high chair on our existing chair so it was table height. Plus it turns into a booster when they outgrow it. It also reclines so you can put the newborn in it while you’re eating at the table, as a family.
I found the bouncy chair not really essential with #1 but super essential with #2 – it was needed to put him down somewhere safe, where big brother couldn’t step on him. I loved my activity mat for the boys too – it was a great way to let them play with toys, learn to swat at them, pull toys towards themselves, tummy time. All of that.
If you’re going to do pacifiers, I loved the Nuk brand best. Oh – bottles – don’t buy a full set yet. I did and #1 hated the brand, each baby is so different. I suggest find 2 or 3 brands you want to try and buying one of each. See which one baby prefers (because s/he will prefer one over the other) and then buy that brand. I had so many bottles that just sat until #2 was born & he didn’t mind them, thank goodness.
A good humidifier is a must too, it’s great for clearing out a cold. And steal as many as the bulb syringes as you can at the hospital, they are the best in my opinion & you can’t buy them at the store. Seriously, take three or more. Speaking of the hospital, swipe all the stuff they give you. Your insurance is paying for it all, take it. Wipes, diapers, burp cloths, nose syringes – all of it.
Burp cloths – I got a lot of cutesy ones – but the ones I ended up using all the time were the cloth diapers. They’re super thick so the spit up doesn’t soak through into your shirt, and they’re big enough to cover most of you.
Good luck! You’ll figure out things as you go, all of us did. What works for one, won’t work for the other. Trust your instincts, take the advice that works for you & brush off what doesn’t. You’ll do things you swore you would never do and not do things you swore you would. You’ve got this!
P.S – Gerber brand clothing runs SUPER SUPER Small. Avoid it if you can, if you must buy it, realize “newborn” is actually sized for micro primi. 3-6 months will fit an average newborn.
Also – bring a newborn & 0-3 month coming home outfit to the hospital. & PJ’s for the baby as well if you don’t want to keep him/her in a diaper and top that they provide.
And room spray – they don’t let you use candles & it can get a bit stinky in there.
OMG! You’re due so soon!! You look beautiful as always, and I love this sweater!
I recommend getting the cheap high chair from ikea. The white one. They are only $20 and so flipping easy to clean! But you don’t need a high chair til he’s like 6 months/when you start feeding him solids.
Any stroller seems to be good these days (we’ve had about 6 different ones within Greyer’s first year, mostly because Ian was being picky about color lol). But while your little babe is still so tiny, I would recommend an infant carseat with a handle that attaches to a matching stroller. They are just WAY easier that way because you don’t have to buckle/unbuckle baby 100 times while running errands, or wake him. You just detach and attach lol.
Loving these photos, what an adorable bump!
xoxo, KP
Eleventh & Sixteenth