Unsolicited Advice for New Mothers

As I was making a list of things we still haven't acquired for baby Sofia, I was thinking about all the pointless gizmos and gadgetry we had around when Tiegan was a baby. Of course, being a first-time Mom, I had no idea what I would really need and what wouldn't be so important. So we stocked up on pretty much everything the stores had in the way of baby stuff. And it ended up being a huge waste of money or space in our home.

Some of these things may have been totally helpful to some, which I'm not completely disregarding here. Everyone has different tastes. I'm just pointing out what has worked for us. So, if you are wandering into the adventure of Motherhood for the first time, I hope these little tidbits help.

What's Pointless...

• Expensive/Stylish Burp Rags. Sure, they're sooooo adorable. Even the plain white ones seem pretty handy. Here's my bit of advice: unless they're gifted to you, don't go out and buy a package of rags made especially for that purpose. If your budget is tight, it's a waste of money. A tip: go to the dollar store and get some cute kitchen towels. They're only a dollar... and they're just going to get puked on anyway!
• Diaper Pails/Diaper Genies: We had one with Tiegan and it was more of a hassle than a help. The bag refills are expensive and need to be replaced pretty often. Also, they are a pain to empty and don't even eliminate odor all that much. A tip: save up your plastic shopping bags from the grocery store. Throw each dirty diaper in one of those, tie it up and take it out with the regular trash.
• Having 10 Million Outfits: Oh the cuteness - they are irresistable, I know! But slow your roll in the infant apparel department. Babies grow so fast that if you have too many clothes, you will end up giving away things that never even had a chance to be worn, or at least selling them for a fraction of what you bought them for.
• Grooming Kits: Those all-in-one kits with baby-sized nail clippers, nail files, brushes/combs and whatever else. They seem convenient, but most women already have these things in their home. I always used my own nail scissors on Tiegan, and if you don't have a pair of these, regular fingernail clippers work fine. As far as the baby-sized nail files? They're just nail files... miniaturized. Big whoop. A Tip: Use your own grooming utensils. Other things that come in these packages like nose aspirators and thermometers ARE things that you will want; just buy them individually or in a different kit, such as a safety/health kit.
• Bottle Coolers for Diaper Bags: I've seen these near the bottle accessories such as bottle warmers and sanitizers. They're insulated bags to keep prepared bottles from spoiling in the diaper bag while you're out & about. They have all kinds of compartments and zippers and whatnot. Some of them may even plug in your car and act as mini-refrigerators for all I know. A Tip: grab a regular insulated lunch bag. When you're on the go, a plastic baggie full of ice cubes along with your bottles inside the lunch bag should suffice.

What's Worth It...

• Lotions, Washes & Ointments: Here's where your saved money from the above will come in handy. There are certain things you can get away with skimping on, and certain things where the rule "you get what you pay for" really does apply. And it applies here big-time. The best skin care is really essential for baby - your skin is the biggest organ in (on) your body and it's the only one you've got. In my opinion, taking good care of your skin is important - for everyone!
  
• Receiving Blankets: We've always had an abundance of these, and they come in handy for much more than just swaddling your baby. You can roll them up and place them in an upside-down "U" shape in baby's carseat to support their head. You can use them to shield your baby from the sun, or to cover up while breastfeeding (although I didn't breastfeed Tiegan, I heard this is a good trick). See what other uses you can find for them - I'm sure you'll discover tons.
• Pack-n-Play: Soooo worth it. They are a pain to put up & dismantle at first, but once you get the hang of it you can probably do it with your eyes closed. Tiegan slept in one at her grandparents' house. And when she started roaming around, it was perfect to set her in with a few toys when I couldn't keep both eyes on her at all times. She never napped in her bedroom - we always just kept a pack-n-play in the living room for her naps. We also took it outside on nice days. In my opinion: one of the best baby-gear investments. I imagine it will be even more helpful the 2nd time around for us, as I can put Sofia in it and Tiegan can't reach in from the outside to bother her if I'm busy.

There are my two cents for the time being. Hope I could help! Moms: if you have anything to add, please do!!