This post is part of a series of posts intended to help my sister with her baby registry. Please see the other posts here and chime in with your advice!
Many of us have the best of intentions when it comes to nursing our babies, but it just doesn’t happen for all of us. I’ve never been able to make enough milk, requiring me to supplement with formula. With Cruz, I did try Fenugreek to increase my milk supply, and it seemed to help some. But please talk to your doctor before trying any supplements. Also, it seems like most hospitals these days have lactation consultants that you can talk to after you have the baby, so I highly recommend that to a first-time mother, or even a second- or third- time mother. The lactation consultant I talked to after having Cruz warned me not to take Fenugreek until after my milk came in or I could run into some issues. That was very helpful advice!
Anyway, all of that to explain why you’ll see both nursing and non-nursing products on my list of recommendations.
- Formula – Formula is pretty pricey, so we buy Walmart’s Parents Choice formula. Which is still pretty pricey, actually. If I were a smart woman, I’d invest money in a baby formula company.
- Manual Br**st Pump – I rented nice electric pumps from the hospital for a couple of months for both pregnancies and even bought an expensive hands-free pump last time around. The hospital pumps worked well. The hands-free pump died quickly. Both were a huge hassle with the cord and tubes and many pieces that needed to be sterilized. Ugh. I just couldn’t ever get disciplined enough to use it regularly. But if you’re nursing at all, there are times that you need a pump, and a manual pump is an economic alternative. Even if you have a nice electric pump, the manual pump is nice to have for when you just need to pump a little milk quickly.
- Bottles with latex n*pples – I like the Playtex bottles with the drop-ins since they require much less cleaning. My older son didn’t seem to care what npple we used, but my younger son is much pickier about those things and prefers the latex ones.
- Nursing bras/shirts/PJ’s – It’s all about access. I didn’t put dresses on the list, but you’ll most definitely need a dress with easy access if you want to go out with the baby.
- N*pple shields – These really help at the beginning when nursing HURTS. I like these.
- Nursing pads for your bra – DO NOT LEAVE HOME WITHOUT THESE. Did you see that episode of The Office where Kevin (I think) kept crying in front of Pam trying to get her to leak? Yeah, it happens. Just don’t let it be obvious to the rest of the world.
- Nursing cover – Because everybody doesn’t need to see your bizness.
- Burp cloths – Because burps aren’t the only things that come up.
- Receiving Blankets – These are great to keep baby warm, as a burp cloth, or as a barrier between baby and any surface that you want to keep free of spit-up (and blow outs).
- Boppy – Love, love, love. I used it for nursing, to prop up the baby next to me, and even to help him sit up.
- High chair with 5-point harness and wheels – the 5-point harness is helpful when baby starts eating solids and isn’t always steady in a sitting position. And it keeps them in place when they fall asleep while you’re trying to give them sustenance in the form of pureed produce. A seat that reclines is also helpful in that situation. Wheels are awesome for flexibility. And they enable my 2-year-old to drag his chair to me when he’s demanding to be fed, so bonus. I also highly recommend a chair with a removable insert in the tray. It makes clean-up so much easier and gives your little one a nice surface for playtime. I can’t remember the brand of our chair and am too lazy to get up and look, but here’s one that has the features I like.
- Baby spoons – I like baby spoons with a long handle. It seems to make feeding time a tiny bit easier.
What am I forgetting? Do you have advice for feeding products?
(Facebook friends, please remember to comment on the blog and not in Facebook so that everyone can benefit from your advice. Thanks!)
6 thoughts on “Baby Products That Make My Life Easier: Feeding”
I would also recommend a supplemental nursing system (SNS), or Lactation Aid, for people who do need to supplement with donor milk or formula. Baby receives the supplement while on the breast, so even while getting the supplement, baby is stimulating the mother to make more milk. Also helps avoid nipple preference. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezGIkIkhC_o
Interesting!
In addition:
As someone who also struggled with milk supply, I also tried everything out there. I used mother’s milk tea too as well as the fenugreek and blessed thistle. I did not notice a significant difference, but then I also never needed the nursing pads since I had nowhere near enough to leak. I did pump a lot though to keep up the supply for as long as possible. I liked the double electric pump for this reason. If you plan to pump a lot, especially and want some hands free, try investing in a pumping bra (basically a bandeau bra top with holes cut in it for the pump) Saved my life even though you feel ridiculous!
As for formula, my pediatrician said all formula is required to have same amount of
same ingredients-even off brands. We have always used the Sam’s club (unless have coupons for name brands) and it would more than pay for a membership since so much cheaper than anywhere else. We also used Gentle formula since kids have dealt with constipation so much (a normal problem on formula).
If you plan to go back and forth from breast to bottle, I recommend the breastflow bottles since they are shaped etc… like the nipple.
Think snack cups are great (try getting ones with tops that allow fingers to go in but keep the spilling from happening.)
We also have used our booster chair (Fisher price that folds) so much that I intend to purchase a second one in a few weeks for the 3rd child since there will be overlap. We just kept it in the car for quick lunches and now my son still uses at 3 1/2 since it keeps him contained and a bit higher than our chairs. It is a small convenient one that does fold so takes little space. (this is in addition to high chair)
If you think you will make your own baby food (I never thought I would but figured out a way to do quickly and is so much cheaper), get a stick blender to puree foods. I have the Cuisinart corded and just love it. (can also be used for other things in the kitchen too) Wasn’t more than $20-25.
Ditto the boppy and burp cloths!!!
How could I forget the snack cups! We love those. They’re great for around the house and for the diaper bag and in the car, especially when traveling. And the booster seat is a must have.
Wow! Lots of great tips in these posts. I’m so inspired I may actually start my registry tonight. It feels a little less intimidating right now. Thanks Leslie and friends.
…I am enjoying all the photos of my beautiful grand babies in your blog, Cruz and Michael. What a JOY and REWARD grand babies are..but that is another subject. I will let you ‘modern’ moms render your advice and stick to my gradmother (or abuelita) duties…! It is truly great that all of you are so well informed and educated as to what is best for baby. God Bless!