Disposable diapers or cloth ones?
Adorable bed skirt or SIDS-safe hard railing?
Travel system or unique-to-your needs stroller and car seat?
This doesn't even include all of those other issues, like taking maternity leave, how long to let the little guy sleep in our room, how to navigate the whole childbirth thing, what kind of bottles/binkies/swaddling blankets to buy, etc. I know I'm not the first one of you to tackle these issues, so we're going to play a little game here, called,
I've tentatively decided to...
Here are the rules. I tell you what I've tentatively decided to do and you tell me if it is a) a brilliant idea b) a passable option or c) something that will eventually warrant me locking myself in the pantry and eating through a year's supply of PopTarts.
Deal?
So, here are my issues:
A. Diapers: I've tentatively decided to go with these:
B. Labor & Delivery:
Yikes! This seems like one of those things that should be straightforward, but there are an endless array of options these days, from scheduling a C-Section around your business meetings (because that is soooo me) to birthing your baby in a kiddie pool at home. I guess I'm nervous that what should be simple--you know, the regular birthing procedure as seen on numerous television shows and movies--could actually have an overwhelming variety of options. I think I've decided to go with as natural of a birth as possible. I'm not saying I'm not open to an epidural, but I'd like to see how long I can go without introducing it into the mix since I'd prefer to have a smaller amount of drugs than a greater amount. I'd rather not be induced; I'd rather not have a C-Section. Ideally, I can draw on some of my crazy theater training to put myself in a calm/tender state of mind and relax to some music. I've heard people say it can be done... simultaneously, I can't help but hear the snickers of the folks out there that think like this sounds like crazy talk. Mostly, I want to have a healthy baby and shorter recovery time. Hopefully things will go my way, but if they don't, as long as we have a healthy little boy at the end of it all, I'll be happy.
C. Other stuff:
Stroller: We're thinking this one. Anyone love it/hate it?
Maternity leave: 12 weeks, which is the most I can take. Looking forward to every minute of it.
Bottles & Binkies: Whoa, too many brands out there! Recommendations?
Okay, that's about it for now. I feel better. This may have been one of those womanly blog posts where I really just needed to vent about what was stressing me out, and now I feel better, even though my problems aren't solved.
However, if you have knowledge to share, please do so! Also, if you just have any wisdom about baby stuff, let me in on it. What do you wish you'd have known when you were buying/preparing things for your little one?
So many choices to make. And i didn't think about any of them before baby arrived. I highly recommend Dr Browns for bottle brands they are the best and reduce colic and gas, I've had chats with other Moms in Target about their awesomeness. They are not cute working they just work amazingly. I had used the playtex ones but they don't even compare to Dr Brown's. I would also recommend this stroller the wheels have air in them so you can take it on gravel, rock, grass no problem it glides I love it. I had a graco with Evan & I would get stuck on grass not that you will be on grass that much ;) anyway it goes with the Maxi Cosi mico car seat and my fab feature was being able to just stick the carseat in the frame and wheels it was so lightweight.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.buybuybaby.com/product.asp?SKU=17931067&RN=7031&
I don't have any input, as I am not yet a parent. However, I am ALL for the natural childbirth and getting as few interventions as possible. So I fully support you and think you can definitely do it! Awesome on 12 weeks maternity leave! :) I am excited to hear about your cloth diapers...I think it's definitely a great choice! :) Love you and your line about donuts and insect repellant:)
ReplyDeleteI convinced Brandon to switch to cloth when our youngest two ended up being 19 months apart. I love the FuzziBunz onesize. Sometimes I wish I had known about them when we had our first but I think I was only okay with them after potty training two kids. For pacifiers I like the Playtex OrthoPro (I think that is what they are called) and Brandon goes along with me. Good luck with everything.
ReplyDeleteMy brother sells FuzzyBuns if you're looking for a place to buy them. He has twins and decided to start selling them on the side to get them cheaper for his family!! Let me know. Also, Hadley's favorite bottles and binkies are Avent. I would recommend having multiple types of binkies around for him to try, he'll probably pick his favorite.
ReplyDeleteA few things: In retrospect I would totally do the cloth diaper thing. I thought about switching, but this late in the game and close to potty training I don't want to spend the moola on them. Next child, for sure! Also next child I am going for an au naturale child birth. I came close with Sawyer, but ending up demanding an epidural. Had they checked me before the administered it, it would have been a no-go since they discovered right after I was a 9 and then they had to turn the thing waaaaayyyy down since it was almost time to push. I realize now the reason I had demanded it was that the pain I was feeling was the transitioning which is the last part of labor. I think you can definitely do it, but go with your gut obviously :) It's always different when you are smack dab in the middle of the situation! And one bit of advice I love to pass on because it helped me tremendously is a book called "The Baby Bistro" by Christina Schmidt. It's all about making your own baby food which saves money on buying the canned stuff, plus it has oodles of information on how much your baby should be eating and when. You can see her website here http://www.babybistrobrands.com/
ReplyDeleteA: cloth diapers are great, and not anywhere near as hard as people seem to think. Seriously, what is the big deal about two extra loads of wash a week? I totally would have done FuzziBuns if I wasn't so cheap. So I went with regular pre-folds and they have been fine. But with all-in-ones you will avoid what has been my only problem with cloth diapers - the monster butt. Not really a problem unless you are trying to stuff the kid into an outfit and his upper half is one size and his lower half is two sizes bigger!
ReplyDeleteB: you can totally do natural childbirth! I birthed three babies to Gregorian Chant (not sure why I got stuck on that, because, while I like it, it isn't my 'go to' music). I highly recommend natural childbirth. Read Dr Sears book "The Birth Book". I recommend doing one of the 'systems' - Bradley, Lamaze, Hypnobirthing, or Hypnobabies. I personally really like Hypnobabies, because the program comes with a lot of scripts to practice with. That way when the big event comes, your mind will be well rehearsed. And I recommend a doula, though I know they are expensive. It helps take the pressure off the dad to be the sole support.
Good luck! You can do it!
I've never done cloth diapers but my sister has and she liked fuzzibuns. If it were me I'd wait till they were like 2-3 months old before buying them just because newborns go through diapers like nobody's business. I tried to go naturally with Liam but it didn't work out for me. Good luck and I hope your pain tolerance level is higher than mine.
ReplyDeleteAh, Alli. I knew in college that we were flower children from the same mother earth... lol, ok maybe not but I never thought we would end up so crunchy! OK I will probably post the longest post in the history of posts... but here goes!
ReplyDeleteCloth diapers! I am so thrilled I finally have another friend interested! It is so much easier than people want to think. I LOVE FuzziBunz but I would warn you that each babys butt is different and some brands that are amazing just don't work great on your baby... too chubby or too thin or just whatever, it doesn't work. So I would buy some and see if they work out. Just don't invest a ton of money that in a lot of them that will last his whole babyhood, start small and then branch out if you find other brands on sell or whatever. Check out myuseddiapers.com or diaperswappers and there are forums on there that may help out decide, as well as great deals to cheaply try out brands. That being said, I have never heard someone being unhappy with a fuzzibunz brand. Newborns are the easiest to cloth diaper - their poo is the easiest to deal with and yes they do go a lot but it is easy to clean up. Even if you just do cloth the first year and then quit you are still saving tons of money and tons of diapers from filling up landfills.
I know you can totally do a natural birth! Especially with all your classes you took that help you think happy thoughts :-) If not though, don't feel terrible! Sometimes things happen that make it impossible so I think going into it with an open mind is crucial. If you really are interested in a natural birth though, you have got to do everything you can to make it successful. Going into it without education and training is like running a marathon without training - you might be able to do it but it won't be a fun experience. I would really urge you to meet with a doula - I just loved mine and wish you could use her too. Here's her website so you can see what a doula is all about: http://www.connectnaturally.com/
And most will meet with you and help you understand the birthing process and then if you don't want to hire them that's fine. Doug was most grateful for her and I really think it would have turned out much differently without her to guide me through it. Most hospital staff are pretty against it and will try to bulldoze you and I was really grateful for her objective third party opinion on things - I know she would have supported me if I opted for the epidural too, she is just there to help. You will get so addicted to watching her montages too, so beware! Mine is on there too! :-) I am so excited for you! It is really a FUN experience and who would have thought? It doesn't have to be this scary thing although I would say you are tons braver than I for trying on your first. Call me if you want sometimes, we can talk more! Love you!
I recommend asking your doctor about all of your pain relief options. Then you know what's out there. There's more than just an epidural or no epidural. I think this time I am going to try something different. I had an epidural and it wasn't horrible, but I think I may have been able to go without it or with something less. As for baby gadgets, we have loved our bumbo and a good backpack or baby carrier. I'm excited to see your new little one!
ReplyDeleteOne thing I didn't know I was missing out on with my first is a wrap carrier. I got one with number four and it is awesome.
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