Goody! More Baby Stuff
Yesterday I did a little more shopping for FutureBaby. I went back to the dreaded, can’t refund my money, Baby Universe and created a registry there. The nice thing about them is that they have a lot of the higher end things I like. (I am still reeling over the fact that the lovely people I work with were planning to get me the Orbit as a shower gift, had I not bought it myself. I work with some cool people!) Also, despite my having to create a date (grrrr), they were cool enough to ask what the event was. And when I selected “adoption” from the list, the registry intro read: Liana and AdoringHusband’s baby registry, planning an adoption for 12/31/2007. That felt OK.
Surprisingly I ended up finding a bedding set there that I really like. It even matches the color of the walls in the baby’s bedroom. It’s this funky one from Banana Fish: 
I think it is cool! I still like the Gustav & Maxwell one, but this is more unisex.
The next issue was that I still didn’t have a bassinet for the munchkin. After looking at all the awful meringue/wedding cake bassinets out there, I agreed with my previous posters who suggested a co-sleeper. I was all set to add it to my registry. On BabyUniverse I found many versions of the Arms Reach Co-Sleeper. However, (and here’s where the divatude showed up) none of them matched my red/deep purple newly redone bedroom with the red bed. 
It wasn’t until I clicked on one of the option links for the mini co-sleeper that I saw the ideal color: Black & White
Unfortunately none of the places with a registry offered this black/white version. That meant buying it myself directly from Arm’s Reach. Goodness, now what am I going to leave on the registry for my lovely co-workers? 
I also added the Svan high chair to the registry. I think it is wonderful.
For some reason, however, BabyUniverse doesn’t carry the Svan bouncer. 
Lastly, here are some of the questions I had after the BabiesRUs debacle last week:
- For diaper disposal. There are now too many options for me to choose from. It used to be simple: Diaper Genie. Now everyone and his brother has an option. What have you found best for controlling odor?
- Bumbo or Bebe Pod?
- BebeSounds Movement monitor and video monitor?
- Pack and Play in addition to co-sleeper?
- Where can one find a divalicious diaper bag?
- Baby Bjorn carrier?
- What do you think about SleepSacks?
- Swaddle Me? Comfortable or infant straitjacket?
And look at this cool little timer from Itzbeen:
It lets you know how long its been between feedings, naps, etc. I love it, but then again, I am a gadget whore.
This is getting to be kinda fun! 
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Wow…you have some awesome taste woman. That bedding is ridiculously cool!
Here are my thoughts. I have the Diaper Dekkor (one on each floor) an think it is way better than anythign else. Hiold tons of dipaers and not a smell out of them to date. I suggest the Bebe Pod as I have heard the Bumbo seat is to be discontinued becasue of falling otu hazards. Dont really think you need a video monitor…it willjst drive you crazy more than anything. You need a pack and play in addition to the cosleeper-they are different things. You dont need one with all the bells and whistles ie changing area, bassinet if you have a cosleeper but you will need the basic pack and play for later as a bed when you go visit. Definitely get the sleep sacks-they are the best thing for baby sleeping and make late night changings easy as pie-get the ones that zip us as well as some sleep gowns. Some babies like to be swaddled and some dont-I would just use a receiving blanket to swaddle to see if baby likes it before you get a swaddle me. Diaper bags are fun and a matter of preference-I have 3. A Longchamp one which is black, stylish and chic and not babyish at all, a fun huge Fleurville Mothership for the pool and beach and a basic smaller guyish navy one from Lands End for Greg. You have to figure what works for you. Addie and I love the Baby Bjorn-I tried the slings and she did not like them and the Bjorn is great for long walks outside and really just aroudn the house when she does not want to be put down and I need my hands free. Have fun with all this! I had ot do it all in a rush AFTER we got baby so you are way ahead of the game.
Ellen: thanks for your detailed reply. I appreciate it. I’m taking lots of notes. I’m still confused about the co-sleeper versus pack & play issue. The co-sleeper says that it travels well and can be used as a bassinet in a hotel or while visiting. Is it really not that portable? I guess when it arrives I can check it out.
You baby will be stylist even before s/he can walk or talk. You have excellent, high end (your words) taste. I am sure you are having lots of fun getting ready. Enjoy!!
Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy! Sorry can’t give any expert advice but very happy for you as things move ahead.
* For diaper disposal. There are now too many options for me to choose from. It used to be simple: Diaper Genie. Now everyone and his brother has an option. What have you found best for controlling odor?
We use a Diaper Champ. The advantage to the Champ is that you don’t have to buy special refills for it, you just use regular garbage bags. It contains smell very well, in our opinion. Plus you don’t ever have to worry about the store being out of refill pods for your Genie.
* Bumbo or Bebe Pod?
We had a Bumbo, I liked it a lot. I liked how soft and molded it was. Some people think the Bebe Pod looks nicer but I’ve heard that since the little piece between the legs is manufactured separately, it can come off unexpectedly, which is not too good.
* BebeSounds Movement monitor and video monitor?
We just have the AngelCare movement monitor and it does great. I have not seen the video monitor from BebeSounds in action. I will say that Sharper Image has an AWESOME wireless digital video monitor with a really sharp picture. Most video monitors I’ve seen have a fuzzy picture, sometimes so fuzzy you can’t see what’s going on. This one (sorry I don’t know the brand name) is crystal clear. I don’t think a video monitor is a necessity because with the AngelCare you get the sound and breath/movement monitoring, but I would go high-end on the video monitor if you want one.
* Pack and Play in addition to co-sleeper?
We had both but we have a two-story house and the pack and play was used for naps when we were downstairs. We never made it upstairs with a sleeping baby without him waking up. Having both probably isn’t necessary unless you have a really large home.
* Where can one find a divalicious diaper bag?
The current popular hipster high-end brands are Petunia Picklebottom, OiOi, and Fleurville. The Picklebottom ones are made of a silky brocade fabric and I’ve heard they don’t hold up well. Fleurville bags are laminated or plastic-covered fabric and are easier to clean. There are some nice boutique brands out there, too. Diaperbags.com has a fantastic selection and really great prices with free shipping. I recently bought a Skip*Hop diaper bag from there. You can also look at designer purse brands, many of them have diaper bags too (Coach, Kate Spade, etc.)
* Baby Bjorn carrier?
Baby Bjorns are not good. Babies end up hanging from their crotches and it’s bad for hip and leg development. You need something that distributes weight better. The favorite among informed babywearers is the Ergo carrier, which is almost the same price but is better for baby, more comfortable for parents and lasts longer. If you are in the market for something less expensive I recommend a Moby baby wrap which is great for small newborns.
* What do you think about SleepSacks?
We used one until our DS was 6 months old. With a blanket sleeper and a sleep sack, they stay pretty warm and don’t need a blanket that could possibly get pulled over the face and suffocate them. I would get 3-4 in the 6-month size.
* Swaddle Me? Comfortable or infant straitjacket?
Swaddling was a lifesaver for us because our son was colicky. There are much better options out there than the SwaddleMe, namely the Miracle Blanket. It takes swaddling to a whole different level of effectiveness. You can buy them online. Swaddling is not straitjacketing a baby; they respond well to it because it gives them a feeling of security. They don’t fully understand, in the early days, that their limbs are actually attached to their body and the Moro reflex is very startling to them. I recommend getting at least one swaddle blanket and then buying more if you need it.
I hope everything works out with your adoption, once you get your paperwork completed. Good luck.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your detailed reply. I’ve taken lots of notes!
And by the way, we are finally official. The paperwork is in. We could match any time now.
Video monitor – best purchase ever! I love mine.
Forget Baby Bjorn – everyone I know who has one regrets the purchase. Look at the mai tai’s on http://www.babyhawk.com Much easier to put on and lovely choices to appeal to your divaishness.
Sleep sacks rock – my kid was still in one until about 18 months…she could walk across the room in it. I loved the Bjorn and used it everyday, but I was commuting with her on the subway and it was a good secure way to handle things. I also loved the Kangaroo Korner Fleece Pouch – an awesome simple sling that doesn’t need to be tied. I never had a diaper pail. We had an open garbage pail in the baby’s room…wet diapers went straignt in, poopy ones went in a grocery store bag and got tied shut. NEVER had an odor problem. I never had a monitor of any sort…didn’t feel the need. A pack ‘n play is great for visiting the grandparents, going to hotels, and even as a playpen at home. I actually had four of them at one point – one at each grandparent’s house, one in my office, and one at home. Good luck! It’s so much fun.
Diaper disposal-We have the Diaper Dekkor. I like it. No smell at all until they started solid food. Now it only smells if it’s been too long between changings. We have to empty it every other day (twins).
Bumbo or bebe- I have one bumbo seat. Both my boys hate it and can easily flip out of it. My nephew though absolutely loves his. Never tried the bebe pod
Pack and Play- Probably good to get one of the cheaper ones to have when you travel. We keep ours in the car now that we don’t use them in the house much. It’s nice to have a safe place to put them/let them nap when we are over someone’s house.
Sleep sack-nice to have. I don’t use them much, but safer than a blanket. Usually I just use heavier pajamas.
Swaddle me- Infant strait jacket. But they did help them sleep. When they got bigger though they could bust out through tiny openings. If I ever have more kids, I’d probably get a miracle blanket instead.
And that gadget is SO cool. I wish I would have had a couple of them.
Here’s what we did with poopy diapers–wrapped them in a grocery bag and put them in the outside trash bin. The Diaper Champ was clunky to operate and didn’t contain the smell either. Waste of money. Then you have to take the fermenting diapers OUT of the Diaper Champ eventually. I just wanted the nasty things out of my home ASAP!
* For diaper disposal. We have just a normal diaper pail and I bought some of those baby powder scented discs at BRUS. We also have the Diaper Champ in the nursery but she doesn’t sleep in there yet. It is a little loud, but I think they key to cut down the smell is to empty whatever you use daily outside.
* Bumbo or Bebe Pod?
We had a Bumbo. My friend’s son who is 6 months and 18 lbs and had on a snowsuit sat in it…and was fine. I even sat my 3 week old in it with neck support and it seemed like she will enjoy it later.
* BebeSounds Movement monitor and video monitor?
I have a regualr monitor. I’d drive myself bonkers with anything else.
* Pack and Play in addition to co-sleeper?
We have both. We have a pillow top mattress, so we need to get the extenders for the co-sleeper. The pack n play is in the basement and is now used for a changing station when we are down there or for an impromptu nap.
* Where can one find a divalicious diaper bag?
My cousin got me a Kate Spade bag. Well made, but overrated. Just as good as the bag I bought myself. Here are some sites for the more popular ones: I guess it also depends on your style/preference.
http://www.trendymaternityclothes.com/
http://www.bugsandblossoms.com/
http://www.instylemoms.com/index.php/action/item/id/904/prevaction/category/previd/8/prevstart/0/
http://www.letsgostrolling.com/
http://www.pandapark.com/category/Diaper-Bags/c195
There is a store in Ambler called Trimesters Boutique that is supposed to be very good too.
* Baby Bjorn carrier?
Love my nojo sling. Want a peanut sling that they sell at this local breastfeeding center. Heard bad things about Bjorn for itty bitty ones.
* What do you think about SleepSacks?
LOVE IT! Easy to change at night and nice for at home during the day
* Swaddle Me? Comfortable or infant straitjacket?
Swaddling is essential for our daughter! She shakes herself awake and without swaddling, we’d be up every hour.
Hope this helps. I had these items bookmarked for years, and my feedback is from use within the past 3 weeks with our newborn. Hope your wait is not long.
Congratulations on finding a good baby registry!
As for the other stuff:
The Diaper Genie, in my experience, was a waste of money. It did nothing in the way of odor prevention. Nothing. After about 6 months we gave up and used a grocery bag inside a wastebasket. Since it was filled and emptied more often, we didn’t have to worry about the smell as much.
Baby Bjorn was a great sling until our daughter got too big, which happened for us at 10 months. Then we used an Apodaca (version of a Korean baby backpack), and it worked great until she was about 3.
I loved our co-sleeper! We got an Arms Reach too; I wish it had come in black
We did have both a Pack-n-Play and a co-sleeper; but the co-sleeper lasted a lot longer than the Pack-n-Play, even though it was used more. I was very disappointed.
Depending on the size of your house, you might not want/need a baby monitor at all. I’m not sure I would go with a video monitor.
If you’re looking for something different in a diaper bag, you might want to look at Etsy. Some of the craftspeople there have some great bags, and in a lot of cases they can make something for you if you didn’t see anything you liked.
Sleep sacks are great! Our daughter was such a big, fast-growing baby that we didn’t use it for long, but it was terrific.
Our daughter was placed with us at 6 weeks. We tried to swaddle her once, but she thrashed around so much that we got her out and didn’t try again. I’d give it a try though.
Good luck! I hope the wait goes quickly.
My feeling about the diaper disposal issue? It doesn’t matter. They all smell a bit. We ended up with a cheap one and that works just fine. In fact, I bought the cheapest one– $11.
We like having both a co-sleeper and the pack n play. We have the pack n play set up downstairs for a safe place to put the baby and use as a changing station!
I love my video monitor. DH got it at Target. I’m a nervous mommy, and I like to be able to see and hear her when I wake up at night, which I do at least 5 times.
Celia loves her Bumbo. She’s getting a little flatheady, so she spends a lot of time in it, always on a mat and supervised.n I’m not familiar with the other product. In fact you have opened up a world of baby products I didn’t know existed!
Celia loves being swaddled, and I use something called the Magic Blanket I got as a gift.
I have a Bjorn and Celia likes it for short periods of time. I have a Snugli with back support that I use occasionally. Mt fave way to carry her is a sling, and mine is from mammasmilk.com, which I believe just might meet your style standards.
I would recommend an array of carriers so you have options. At different stages, she seems to prefer different things.
I have to echo what some people are saying here.
Swaddling – I just did it with a thin receiving blanket. Watch the video “The Happiest Baby on the Block” it saved my life. It is only about 15 min’s. long.
Our baby liked his http://www.hotslings.com. Now he is four months and doesn’t like it as much, but it saved me when he was tiny.
We have the Diaper Dekor and love it. But once they get bigger the diapers do really smell and there isn’t too much you can do but just bring them directly outside.
Love your blog and can’t wait for stories of your baby very soon!
Judi
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Diaper Disposal: We have a Diaper Dekkor. It’s fine. The best solution for diaper smell though is to flush it all together. We use gdiapers (www.gdiapers.com) which are flushable, biodegradable diapers that are sooooo great. They breath which means less diaper rash and they are super cute on baby bottoms. It’s so much better for the planet too. I cringe everytime I hear about a diaper (made of plastic) being wrapped in plastic (sometimes individually!) and sent off to the landfill to sit for 500+ years.
Bumbo v. Bebe Pod: We had a Bebe Pod. It was fine, but our daughter wasn’t very into sitting in it.
Video Monitor: We have a Summer Infant video monitor and I love it! It made the transition from Anya sleeping in our room to in her own crib so easy. I love being able to see if she is truly awake or just rolling during REM sleep.
Diaper bag: I started with a JJ Cole Logic bad which was great. I have since moved up to a Ju Ju Be “Be a Star” which is really fun and has great accessories.
Baby Bjorn: I loooovvveee my Bjorn Active (go with Active). We use it almost every day for hikes. Anya prefers it to her stoller, so it has been a great investment. I also just got a Hotsling to carry her on my hip for quick trips.
Sleep Sack: Love these and are still using them at 9+ months.
Swaddle me: A lifesaver for getting our daughter to sleep at night and for naps. These made several reappearances over the course of about 4 months or so. It would seem like she was over it, and then we would find that it would work again for a while.
Hope this helps! Good luck!
Hi! Congrats!!! I have the angel care monitor and I LOVE IT. I have a video monitor too and I love that too. I think one of the greatest things I bought was the fisher price jump-a-roo. She can start using it at 3 or 4 months and it is a lifesaver. I just bought a cheep diaper pail at bru and it does not smell. I adopted a little girl too and I am so happy for you!! Maggie