[SCENE: A lavishly appointed NICU ROOM. NURSE PRACTITIONER—formerly seen in Act I: A Streetcar Named TRACHEOSTOMY—pulls up a chair. ALEXA looks up from LAPTOP, visibly ALARMED.]
NURSE PRACTITIONER: So, I just want to prepare you…
ALEXA’S INNER MONOLOGUE: Oh god, WHAT NOW?
NURSE PRACTITIONER: …for the fact that things may start moving quickly now that Simone is back on the regular cannula. She can be discharged on this oxygen setting, and once she is taking all her feedings by bottle or breast, we will be sending her home.
ALEXA’S NECK: WHIPLASH!
-Fade to black-
[SCENE: A lavishly appointed NICU ROOM. ALEXA is MAKING FACES at the BABY. WOMAN enters.]
WOMAN: Hi! I’m from Discharge Planning. Do you have a few minutes to talk?
ALEXA’S BRAIN: LIQUIFIES, DRIPS OUT RIGHT EAR
It looks like Simone is coming home. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon, and for the rest of her life (we may have to negotiate that last part when she reaches college age, but never mind that now).
So, uh, I have a lot of questions. About babies. Because of how I have one. Who will be coming to live with me, at my apartment, where the nurse-to-neonate ratio is suboptimal (0-1). Currently, my knowledge of infants is more or less limited to the following:
1. Generally diminutive in size
2. Fond of milk
3. Exhibit poor impulse control
4. To clean, wipe with damp cloth
5. Should never be thrown out with bathwater
I was initially relieved to see that babies have their own Wikipedia page, but it turns out to be full of helpful tidbits such as “Babies cannot walk” and “Infants’ social presence is different from that of adults, and they may be the focus of attention. Fees for transportation and entrance fees at locations such as amusement parks or museums are often waived.”
While I am certainly pleased to know that I can send Simone out for an afternoon of sightseeing with a minimal amount of cash, I have more pressing concerns. Like the tag that came attached to one of my daughter’s snap-heavy unitards:
PARDON?
Catch FIRE? Are babies flammable? Is this something I need to be watching for, a PLUME OF SMOKE rising from her bassinet?
So yes: I have many questions. I could “read” or “consult experts,” but talking to the Internet has served me so well in the past that I thought I would do that instead. I have a whole slew of things to ask about breastfeeding and reflux and whatnot, but those will be more involved posts later this week (that anyone who is not deeply interested in my nipples may want to skip). For now, I will start with something simple:
MY NEUROSIS, LET ME SHOW U IT
One of the first things we heard when they started transitioning Simone to a crib was that she would need to be bundled up, and could we bring in some of her clothes? “Sure!” I said brightly, surreptitiously writing Buy Baby Clothes on my To Do list. I never had a baby shower, seeing as how I didn’t make it out of the second trimester, and my paranoia did not permit me to buy baby things during pregnancy myself (a good thing, too, or I’d be listing a double stroller on Craigslist right about now). After Simone was born, her health was so tenuous that I was even less inclined to purchase crib bedding I might have to re-tailor into an infant shroud.
But if trained medical professionals needed me to shop for wee bodysuits, well, by golly I would. So I ran out to buy a package of onesies…and staggered into my apartment three hours later with bags hanging from my every appendage, bags containing things like baby Tylenol and tiny socks and a random package of bottles. Perhaps my blood sugar was low, perhaps it was the fine mist of acquisition-promoting chemicals they spray into the air at Target, but once I tossed that first pair of footed pajamas into my cart, there was no stopping me. I was too superstitious to do anything with my freshly acquired loot but shove it into a closet and sneak in to stare at it every once in a while, but it’s a start. I have a Boppy sitting in the NICU. I have the softest stuffed elephant ever made. We even have a crib, an honest-to-goodness crib for a baby.
Besides the aforementioned baby Tylenol I now own a barrel-sized vat of hand-sanitizer, Pampers SENSITIVE! wipes, Johnson & Johnson NO MORE TEARS! baby shampoo, a bulb syringe, two hulking air purifiers, and a baby first aid kit—the only thing missing is the plastic bubble. But I know there is more to stocking a nursery than rectal thermometers and stuffed elephants, soft or not (the elephants, not the thermometers). And it’s confusing: did you know you aren’t supposed to use baby oil or baby powder? I assumed that the “baby” prefix meant they were appropriate for the younger set, but no.
So let’s assume, for a moment, that Simone is going to continue staying alive and eventually come home to the room earmarked for her—what do I need? Rags, obviously, for assorted fluids. Twine to keep her tethered safely in her crib. Anything I am missing? What did you use, and what was a waste of money that could more properly be spent on cheese and gin?
*But Were Too Infertile to Ask
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Long-time lurker, first-time commenter. First of all – AWESOME.
Secondly, Desitin diaper cream. A bouncy seat. A bottle drying rack (they don’t get fully dry in teh dishwasher). A bath sponge (they usually come in the shape of a bear, and you put it in the bottom of the tub when they are very wee). And a tub, of course.
“The Going To Bed Book” by sandra boynton.
A diaper caddy and a pack n’ play. The pack n’ play is a wonderful changing table/nap spot.
Wonderful, incredible, happiest news I’ve heard in weeks.
PS: Guinness is good for milk production, it was recommended to me by my physician that i drink it when i was nursing.
just to clarify that i’m not some kind of boozy monster. (okay, i might be boozy, but i’m not a monster.)
I second whoever said MIRACLE BLANKET! Those things are…um…miracles. Yeah. You have to wrap them REALLY TIGHTLY for maximum efficacy, which I never had the huevos to do to my first baby, but by the third one strangers would gape and make alarmed noises when they’d see me bracing the baby burrito with one hand and yanking the tail of the blanket with the other to pull it tight. Also? If she comes home on oxygen you may want to be EXTRA-careful about infant combustion. Oatmeal is also good for milk production. Cornstarch baby powder (NOT talc, which has been linked to higher incidences of cervical cancer in girl-babies and is apparently evil in general) is okay unless Simone has special no-powder orders for respiratory reasons (I’ve always just sort of cupped my hand over the top of the baby’s groin when applying so that it doesn’t ricochet upward, but none of mine had that degree of respiratory difficulty so again, your mileage may vary). If you don’t have her sleeping in your room, you’ll want to get one of the monitors with the lights AND sound, because if you turn them ALLLL the way up you can WATCH THE BABY BREATHE remotely if your eyes pop open and you feel the need to do so (if you are not as neurotic as I am, STOP LAUGHING–if you are, YOU’RE WELCOME!). Um…separate shirts and pants are for chumps–go with onesies for as long as possible or you’ll have a bare little belly to constantly be covering up. Oh, and lanolin is all well and good, but my lactation consultant the third time around gave me the GREAT advice to express a small amount of milk before a feeding and use it to lube up the whole aureola–if the baby doesn’t take a big enough “bite” of boob sometimes the suction and slipperiness will make it self-correct without any suction breaking or crying (theirs or yours). I’m so glad to hear you might be blowing that pop-stand!
I’ll just chime in on what others have mentioned and that we loved.
The Miracle Blanket. The name is no lie. I had a kid that I thought would go off to college being swaddled, and this thing saved us time and again. If you can swing it, get two, in case of pukeys.
Really, for just about everything: get two, if you can swing it, for pukeys. There’s one thing all babies do: puke.
The swing was also my savior during the day. He only napped in the swing or the stroller and since he was born in December in WI, the swing was a bit more practical.
But since you’ll be bringing Simone home to lovely spring weather, take her for as many walks as you can. In the stroller or the sling, whatever is easier for you. The sunlight is good for your mental state and the fresh air and change of scenery will be invaluable.
And here’s what I wish I’d done, had I had a little warning that my son was going to be evicted 3 weeks early: prep some meals, including having fruit for snacks. There’s days when making a sandwich will be an impossible feat, so being able to grab a pear while you nurse her will be a lifesaver.
Good luck! Congrats! It’s so exciting!
I’m a long time lurker, first time poster; but I had to say:
Congratulations!!!
I agree with the folks above who said to trust yoursel. You know more than you think you do and you’ll have good instincts. Before our son was born someone told us “Remember, there are a thousand ways to raise a child and eight hundred of them work.”
Things I couldn’t live without when the babies were small:
1. I’m piling on the burp cloth bandwagon here, especially the part about using the cloth diapers instead. They’re much more absorbent and much more useful when the baby is no longer spitting up.
2. Some sort of sling or pouch. Babies have an unerring instinct for needing to be held when you most need both hands for something else. The sling/pouch will save your sanity. Plus? Who *wouldn’t* want to hold a cuddly little bundle of warmth a bunch? You’ll use this a lot and it’s a lot more convenient when you go out to be able to pop a baby in a pouch than to wrestle out the stroller/baby bucket combo.
3. A swing or bouncy seat. Our son and daughter were both refluxy and, dang. Keeping them upright and comfy to get a bit of sleep is the only thing that kept both of us alive when they were up every hour.
4. Lanolin — gotta second (or third or whatever) that one. Breast feeding is hard at first (but don’t give up! it gets easier and then it’s the best thing ever!) and the lanolin is definitely helpful for sore nipples.
CONGRATULATIONS again! I’ve been following your blog for while and I’m so pleased for you!
And isn’t it kind of fun going around Target or BRU looking at all the cool baby stuff? I loved that when the babies were tiny.
I think that everything that needs to be said re: baby gear has been said above. I just wanted to let you know how incredibly happy I am for you that Simone will be coming home with you. SOON!
Oh, I did just think of one other thing we loved, not for a newborn, but once she can hold her head up well – a Bumbo! Very nice for helping them sit before they can support themselves. We used it for feeding (solids) for the first three or four months before Ant could sit well enough for a high chair.
I third or fourth the idea of wanting to get you something. Maybe you could register at baby superstore of your choice, and let us know where that is?
Can I suggest California Baby as an alternative to Johnson & Johnson’s body wash? It’s much safer, not nearly as harsh and all natural…and lasts just as long if not longer (for a small bottle). My MIL bought some for my son and it has been amazing. J&J isn’t exactly the best out there anymore. =(
It’s so great you bought stuff. Seriously, I went nuts…and then had to go make a bunch of returns when I had a Godzilla-sized newborn.
Favorites:
Mustela and California Baby bath soap and lotion.
Aden and Anais muslin blankets for swaddling
ITZBEEN timer – still use it and baby is almost 11 months old
Book: Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child
Dr. Smith’s diaper cream
Sling – I had a maya wrap but a friend has the Moby wrap and loves it – I’d use that one next time.
Sleep sacks – for when baby outgrows swaddling
Rainforest aquarium for the crib – baby has loved it from almost day 1
Diapers.com for diapers
Get more baby washcloths than you’ll think you need, my mother got us a package of like 30 and I thought she was crazy, then I started using them all the time.
If you can borrow or get swing from Craig’s list – not all babies like them (mine didn’t) and it could be a waste of money.
Avoid clothes with snaps up the back – I found them to be a huge pain when the baby was tiny and needed burping. I also found that I liked zip up sleepers better when I was doing frequent diaper changes – especially at night.
I unfortunately have no useful information to give you on the baby front, as Aodin didn’t quite make it home with us, but I could not be more happy for you. I am SO pleased to hear that Simone could be coming home sometime soon! It’s wonderful. I cannot wait for pictures and stories and all of the excitement of bringing home baby!
So excited to read this post and hear of some POSITIVE excitement at S’s bedside. You’ll do great — just start with what you have an aquire as needed. You’ll appreciate the errand!
Coming out of lurkdom to say “Yay” and “Blogging makes you care about people you don’t even know”.
All good suggestions above, to which I’d like to add:
A few waterproof changing pads, like these:
http://www.kushiesonline.com/Deluxe-Baby-Changing-Pad-p/p210.htm
They were great for bare bum time, which our Josie needed a lot of due to yeasty diaper rashes. Because protecting laps and carpets and sofas is nice, and just plain towels can be soaked through. This I know for sure.
As well, for you? Food you can eat with one hand, and things you can throw together for meals and snacks quickly. Stuff to make smoothies. I liked granola bars and smoothies for quick energy and a full tummy; and if you get things like bagels slice them all ahead of time and set your toaster setting to lighter because you may have to send it through a time or two if you actually want to eat it warm. Oh, the things that can happen in the time between pressing the lever and the pop-up.
You must must must have a baby monitor with a motion sensor that will alert you if she’s stops breathing (the sensor goes under the mattress), a la Angel Care monitor. Perhaps you will be coming home with something hospital grade, but eventually I assume you will have to give that back and the peace of mind of the motion sensor is worth it’s weight in platinum and diamonds.
And I’m a big fan of the Ergo baby carrier for when she gets a little bigger.
A bouncy seat is a must. Get one that vibrates (I think they all might). (Wish I had one that would fit a six-foot two, 165-pound woman).
and OMG! Simone is coming home soon!
I prefer Target brand desitin for diaper rash. As far as equipment, I did a post on that last week.
http://raspberrychip.blogspot.com/2008/04/rachels-recommendations-part-1.html
I am so glad Simone is coming home!
I don’t have a baby (only puppies, who can be left alone in a cage all day . . . I hear you’re not supposed to do that so much with babies?) so I don’t have any advice. But I would like to say OMG SIMONE IS GOING HOME SOON YAY!!!!! I am so happy for all of you!
Congratulations, Simone, on your pending homecoming! My husband always said the only thing you need to bring a baby home is a carseat, diapers, and food. Everything else is a luxury. That being said, we really enjoyed our rolling bassinet – our 6 month old slept in it next to our bed, which is convenient for middle of the night feedings and neurotic checks from mommy to make sure baby is still breathing. Then you can roll it around with you all day – doing dishes? roll her into the kitchen with you, don’t even have to wake her up. Sitting on the veranda? roll her outside, etc….
I too love burpy cloths – we have them all over the house, to catch spitup, to put under the chin while feeding, to wipe baby boogers on.
You are going to do so GREAT! We all started out where you are, and we all just do the best we can. The kids almost always turn out just fine :)
Kirsten
Oooh oooh ooh! *raises hand* Pay attention to me! I’ve had one whole human child and thus know everything! Or…not.
Stuff we used:
Car seat, and maybe one of those snap-n-go stroller frames for it — you can totally wait until she’s sitting up to make up your mind on a real stroller.
A frillion cheap cloth diapers for spills
Dr. Brown’s bottles (the small parts can be a pain but soooo good for newborn digestive sensitivities)
A swing (if Simone proves to be the swinging sort — we learned two days in that Noah would only sleep after being swung wildly back and forth by one of us in his car seat, and eff that, they make ugly battery-operated crap for a reason)
Triple paste butt cream in case of (shudder) thrush or other vicious newborn rashes.
Blankets for swaddling.
And that’s really it, early on. I wish we’d skipped all the other stuff, like bottle sterilizers (DISHWASHER, YOU MORON) and Diaper Genies and bouncy seats and anything and everything related to tummy time. Oh, and anyone who gives you infant outfits that BUTTON around the legs or up the back? Cut them out of your life, because they clearly hate you.
The things I could not live without:
-Anti-gas drops (mylicon, ovol, whatever they are called).
-Burp cloths (although when you run out, there’s always towels)
-un-scented, sensitive skin laundry detergent, ivory snow or whatever they call it. You’re going to do a lot of laundry.
-A squirrel-like cache of food for yourself … now is the time to stock the freezer with food you can pull out, re-heat and have dinner on the table, as well as things you can eat one handed, like granola bars and the like. Or get a lot of take-out gift certificates.
I couldn’t have lived without my Arm’s Reach Co-Sleeper. Having your baby right next to your bed where you can watch her sleep just can’t be beat.
I also loved loved loved the Swaddle Me blankets. They are much like the Miracle Blankets but I believe less expensive.
Ok, who is organizing the shower? I would, but my one human toddler and full time job are complicating things.
Beware of BPA in bottles, avoid Dr. Brown’s until their new ones come out. See recent articles and Canada ban.
Everything else should have already been mentioned. If you are interested in a used bouncy seat, I’m local and would love to see it reused. It made the whole reflux thing so much more livable. That and Prevacid.
no baby here, but i’d love to join the others and ask for a chance to help out. amazon wishlist? target registry?
hooray simone! so happy to read the news.
Tips:
1.My daughter had horrible diaper rash when she first came home. Her doctor told us that babies less than a few months old shouldn’t be changed using wipes. He recommended water or even better baby oil. It sounds really wierd but if you dampen cotton balls, wadded up toilet tissue or a soft cloth with a little baby oil it will clean anything! We used baby oil on her bum for the first few months and she’s never had another diaper rash. Plus, we didn’t even need to use creams. Also, you will want to take her in for a diaper rash if she gets one in case it’s a yeast infection. Easy to treat if you know what it is.
2. Not sure if you will have to give medicines but here’s a trick. We have to give our baby zantac by a dropper twice a day. It tastes gross so we have to trick her. Have someone standing by with the dropper and while she’s eating remove the nipple(real or artificial) from her mouth. While she’s still making the little ‘o’ like she’s eating sneak the dropper in then quickly put the nipple back in her mouth. She’ll be able to get the icky taste out of her mouth.
3. You might want to bath her in your arms for the first few months. This works well with two people. While one is in the shower the other strips the baby and hands her off. A quick rinse and some soap if needed then she gets handed back to the helper and wrapped in a warm towel. It’s really hard to feel like your not drowning a tiny baby in a bathtub, plus the skin contact is really nice. We ‘showered’ ours until she was around 12 pounds.
Other things we can’t live without…
Vibrating chair – we like the fisher price rainforest one. You can set it in front of your chair and gently rock the baby with your foot.
Burp cloths – our baby has reflux too. You will need ALOT of these. Anything soft will do.
Bibs – make sure they have snaps or the soft velcro. Some come with velcro that is very hard and scratchy. No baby needs that. Touch it to your skin, if it’s scratchy, put it back.
Ok, honestly, what Simone needs…love. Everything else…just icing.
Practically speaking…
-have burp rags (which you already have)
-a boppy to save your sagging arms :) (you have already)
-I never used the cute crib bedding…only used sheets because I was neurotic about suffocation.
-baby bags :) not garbage ones. I can’t remember the official names, but these cutie outfits don’t have bottoms, so it is easy to change diapers without too much fuss. My kids (I have 3) hardly wore anything else until they were 3 months old.
-a swing is nice to have, make sure its battery operated and not wind up. Because it never fails to need rewinding just when baby falls asleep.
-gas drops for your darling…mylicon or generic…doesn’t matter
-easy to eat snacks for you when you are nursing or feeding her a bottle.
—friends to drop by to give you food or an ear for listening when you are making yourself crazy with what you aren’t doing that will scar your child for life…sorry, that was my own insecurities talking.
Simone will do just fine if you give her all your lovin! Here’s hoping she comes home soon.
Blessings!
Isn’t crazy how you sit and sit and sit in the NICU and one day they blind side you with the words “DISCHARGE” and “HOME”! I am so excited for you!
Don’t worry too much about baby stuff. You really don’t NEED all that much. And it’s easy to run out and pick up things when she comes home (even though you won’t be able to take her to the store with you).
Just have the basics – diapers, wipes, lots of onesies, some swaddling blankets, a boppy pillow, couple of sheets, bottles.
We had the papisan bouncy chairs which they (and we) loved in the beginning. We had some serious reflux and they were great for keeping the babies up right. Are they using a Danny sling in Simone’s crib? If they are and you want extras, we still have ours. It was kind of nice to have a spare or two when we needed to wash them so we didn’t realize right before bedtime that they were still wet. Let me know if you want them.
One of our NICU nurses recommended the Kangaroo Pouch sling (actually made in Minnesota). You can get them at the baby store on Snelling. I’m totally blanking on the name. You know the really cute, but expensive one with lots of organic type stuff. Our really bad refluxer lived in this sling. It was nice because I could even slip it off when he was sleeping and transfer him to the bouncy chair without waking him up.
Don’t stress too much about stuff. Remember there will be lots of advice, but no “right” answers (although there will be many people with no preemie experience that will try to convince you they know it all). You’ll realize what works best for you very quickly when Simone comes home.
Oh, this is fantastic news! I remember how quickly everything happened once we started hearing the words “discharge planning.” It was as if everything was in slow-mo up to that point and then it suddenly went to FFx5.
Gear: I can’t add anything other than what’s already been said.
I’m just so happy for you!
ecstatic. happy for you beyond belief and words.
If you buy NOTHING else…. please get yourself a Moby Wrap. If I had your address I’d send you one myself.
I bought one for my best friend (who also brought home a weeeee little preemie) and she LIVED in it. Her baby is now 5 months old and she STILL rants to me about it.
So please… set up a PO box or something so we can give you an impromptu and belated baby shower… I’ll send a Moby Wrap!
L
No baby purchase advice here, but this is a fantastic post (and comments) that I’m bookmarking for when I’m less infertile and need to know what to buy.
Yea Simone!! Way to grow, baby!
- I second (or third) the California Baby wash – the Super Sensitive variety has no fragrance, no aggravating chemicals, etc.
- I exclusively pumped for 14.5 months, and I would recommend olive oil instead of lanolin, especially if you are pumping alot… olive oil is antibacterial and antifungal and will be much more comfortable than sticky lanolin… Plus, yeast LOVES lanolin – all that nice sugar!
- When your nipples are really torn up use All Purpose Nipple Ointment (for recipe see: http://www.drjacknewman.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=39&Itemid=69)
It has to be made by a compounding pharmacy, and it is kind of expensive, but a little lasts a LONG time and it will heal your nipples super quick.
- Amazon’s subscription service for diapers – 15% off the price and free shipping… They just send you the diapers at the interval you request – you don’t even have to remember!
- Slings and wraps are awesome, especially when they need contact, but you are convinced your arms will fall off if you have to hold them another second
- Diaper Champ – uses regular kitchen trash bags, keeps in the smells
- I loved gowns for newborns, esp. at night – you can change their diaper with a minimum of fuss
- Ann Douglas’ The Mother of All Baby Books – silly title, but a solid reference book with evidence-based info presented in a reassuring but not condescending manner
You will do a fantastic job, even with a sub-optimal nurse to baby ratio!
How exciting! I’m so glad to hear that you will be taking Simone home soon. My preference was for Huggies wipes and Pampers diapers. You can mix and match those brands with no worries! The Pampers wipes seem flimsy or something. Huggies makes a brand for sensitive skin, too.
Get lots of burp cloths (Gerber cotton diapers work great – my 2 yo daughter still uses them as her comfort objects) and terrycloth bibs. That will save you from changing a lot of clothes (hers or yours). My kids wore bibs pretty much all the time during their first year of life. I finally looked around once my son turned one and noticed that none of the other little babies had bibs on, so I let him go bib-free after that.
Get ready for lots of snuggle time. My daughter was 8 weeks early, and I just decided it was because I needed to have some extra time with her. And I cherished every baby-snuggly moment, no matter how tired I was.
Find some really good TV shows – I was reacquainted with Murphy Brown during my daughter’s infancy. It came on at 3 AM on Nick at Night. Lame as I am, I actually stumbled out of bed to get the baby thinking, “I wonder what’s happening on Murphy Brown this morning!”
Babies are strong. They don’t break easily. Just love her and hold her a lot. It won’t spoil her (it’s impossible to spoil an infant).
If you have time to read, try the preemie baby book by Dr. Sears. I loved that, and I was able to read it while nursing or pumping.
I’m a complete stranger, but I’m so happy for you, another complete stranger. Gotta love this internet!
The Boppy Newborn Lounger…it’s the ONLY thing I give to people having a baby. It keeps them confined and snuggled and slightly elevated and is the best thing ever.
More practical things? I can’t speak to girl-y things, but baby things:
1) Beaudreaux’s Butt Paste (doesn’t stink and kept my 2nd from having a diaper rash for 7 months, until I stopped using it!)
2) Wal-Mart (I know, I know) Baby Connection (?) Burp Cloths (4 to a pack)
3) Some sort of SWING (I have the Fisher Price Papasan swing)
4) Fisher Price Crib Aquarium
5) ANYTHING from Earth Mama/Angel Baby
6) Cloud B Swaddle Blanket &/or Sleep Sack
SO exciting!
De-lurking to first and foremost say – Congratulations!!
Secondly, to share some of the things that worked for us. When I bought my preemie home 5 months ago, we came home to nothing as well, being as that I never had my shower either. I ran to Target as well – stocked up on Pampers newborn Swaddlers, Pampers Sensitive wipes, flannel receiving blankets, onesies, socks, little cotton caps, burp cloths, and a copy of What to Expect the First Year.
Babies R Us has a decent selection of preemie clothes that worked well for our daughter – Alexa, who shares your name! I bought most of her clothing there, she slept in a bassinet, and we made it work an picked up the rest as we went along.
I eventually had a shower, and it took her about 3 months, but she finally went into newborn clothing, Carters fits her very slim frame the best.
The Diaper Champ – wonderful invention. The Fischer Price Rainforest Bouncer – a godsend. The Fischer Price Baby Papasan Cradle Swing – a lifesaver.
Overall, babies are pretty forgiving and won’t remember if everything wasn’t ‘perfect’. You do it as you go along, and it comes easily after a few weeks. I hope the little one is home soon, and I am so excited that the NiCU stay is coming close to an end! The day we left, we ran and never looked back.
Congrats! I am so, so happy for you! Your excitement is palpable and I laughed out loud at this post.
I do not have kids, but from the slew of siblings, cousins and babysitting I did, you can never have enough onsies and undershirts. Babies are always spitting up on themselves and they constantly need to be changed. Stock up on laundry detergent and fabric softener, too!
Warmest wishes,
M
Also – Mylicon. That saved us many nights of screaming once I started giving it to her. Helped tremendously with her gassy colic issues. Of course ask the ped first, but I swear by that stuff.
Congrats on Simone’s impending homecoming!
I have no advice to offer in the baby gear department, I’m afraid. Personally I find the list of items to purchase quite overwhelming, and I won’t have a baby joining me for another 5 months.
This is the best news ever!
My baby is 25 (gulp) and the only thing I remember really loving was those cloth diapers (she was allergic to disposables), and Bag Balm (green tin found at Target). I’ve heard that Butt Cream is the best for diaper rash. My daughter (aka my baby) worked in a daycare and said those vibrating sling papazans(sp) were essential. Oh – and baby suppositories for when the little pooper ain’t workin’. It happens and it’s the saddest cry you’ve ever heard in the world.
That’s my 2 cents.
I would be very interested in a virtual baby shower though — or a Target gift registry. I’d love to send you something!!
Congrats on every level.
Oh goodness what wonderful news!! I was still reeling from your last few posts so it was fantastic to read good news.
My advice as the mom of a preemie.
Stock up on lots of cloth diapers as burp cloths and then they make great cleaning rags later.
Make sure you have a good stroller or sling to walk around with. You can’t (or more realistically shouldn’t)go to a lot of public places with your preemie for awhile. So we compensated by taking LOTS of long walks around our neighborhood and local parks. I found it relaxed me immensely and he loved the fresh air.
We loved our Papasan swing and whatever random vibrating seat was available. It helped with his reflux by keeping him a little more upright and he routinely slept there. As an aside though, he fit in the vibrating seat pretty easily but the swing took awhile before he was big enough to sit in safely.
Don’t worry about having everything ahead of time. You can always go out and get things later. And while you can’t run everywhere with your preemie? An afternoon run to a mostly empty store is not the end of the world.
The most important thing that she needs is you. Don’t worry it will be amazing and wonderful to have her home!
So excited for you!!!! I have a list of things though that I have used with each of my boys (now on #3 who is 2m old)
1. bouncer
2. swing
3. bjorn when I put on a sling it feels like they are going to fall out.
4. burp cloths so much easier than bibs until soilds are started
5. pad to put on top of crib sheet so much easier to change than the whole sheet everytime a diaper leaks or spit up occurs. I put them on the changing table too, less laundry that way.
6. lots of recieving blankets for swaddling. 7. sleep book “solve your child’s sleep problems” dr. ferber. lots of useful information from infant to teens. worked with all my kids
Make sure you pick her up as soon as you can when she starts crying. it will help her to cry less. lots of hugs and kisses she won’t break and she will know how much you love her.
Good luck and you are a wonderful mom.
Wow! Lots of advice!
The silly warning you found is required by the government. They’ve decided that children’s sleepwear has to be tight fitting or made with a fireproof material. If it isn’t made with that material, it needs that warning you saw. I’m guessing that it was done after a lawsuit by the parents of “Jack be Nibble”. Jumping over candles in loose fitting clothing could result in disaster.
Besides a car seat, diapers, and a way to feed her, I think you need to have a friend that is local that can either come over and tend to the baby when you need a nap or that you can go see to get out of the house (baby in tow). Unfortunately, most people have jobs in the middle of the day, which is when you’ll need that the most. Without having that for myself, I’m sure you would have seen a headline last summer: “Search for missing Eagan mom ends when she was found hiding in a tree mumbling ‘stop crying, baby, please stop crying’”.
I don’t know if or when colic hits preemies, but trust me, you’ll need Mylicon in the house. It was the only thing we *really* couldn’t do without in the first three months. One drop per kilo, it doesn’t taste bad and in a good ten to fifteen minutes the crying would go away.
Other than that, get yourself a sling (I found the pouch models easier to use), forget about teensy t-shirts and cute little dresses (I know, I know, impossible…) because onesies are definitely more comfortable for the baby, don’t go crazy on baby shoes (little Imelda Marcos here is four months old and she has yet to try one pair!) stock up on burp cloths for under her head in the crib and all the spit ups and maybe get one of those vibrating rocking chairs (it can save the life of your wrists and arms if she gets clingy).
Oh, and a microwave steam sterilizer too!
Boudreaux’s Butt Paste
A red or ‘unhappy’ bottom tonight generously covered with Bourdreaux’s Butt Paste = all gone tomorrow morning and a happy baby to boot!!
WHOOO HOOOO!
That is all.
Oh that’s so wonderful! I am very very pleased for you.
The things I’ve found most useful in looking after my baby : yoga ball, maternity pillow, muslin cloths, stroller, one of those baby chairs whose recline can be altered and that rock and one of those chain/string things that attach a pacifier to baby’s clothing.
My son was quite a fractious baby and the yoga ball was brilliant at soothing him to sleep. Basically a parent would sit on it holding him and bouncing gently on it. (Also brilliant for resting legs on while watching TV while baby is silent).
I don’t know what a Boppy is, but the pillow I used was a long sausage shaped one filled with some kind of granules, the sort you use to ease your aches in pregnancy and the sort I subsequently used to prop up my baby or make him snuggly. If he fell asleep in my arms I could transfer him to the pillow bent into a U shape and fool him into settling into it so comfortably that he didn’t notice that I was no longer holding him, like this.
Another useful thing : helium balloons. When my baby became good at looking at the world and being amused by it, a helium balloon attached to a baby arm or leg was both distracting and entertaining for the baby (since flailing his limbs made the balloon dance) and allowed me to get quite a bit of housework done.
In terms of hauling baby around I use a sling. I’ve got a bad back so I did a lot of research of various slings and the most comfortable one I came across was this one: http://www.closebabycarrier.com/ It seemed to combine the best of a sling and a baby bjorn, it was easily adjustable, easy to clean and didn’t involve much faff. Nowadays I get my son into it in about 10 seconds and get him out quite easily. Also the way it’s shaped makes it easy for a baby to change positions in it and takes minimal adjustment to breastfeed.
Things to avoid – infant clothings that shut with buttons rather than snaps, things that close at the back rather than front.
Yay, Simone. Home. It’s going to feel so good.
Tell your mama that an ergo carrier rocks. A Bjorn will leave her back crippled, especially when you qualify as a featherweight. It can be used front, back, side, and there’s a nifty insert for the diminutive in size.
Oops, I forgot the most important. Food for your parents because they won’t have a moment to cook. They need to spend every possible moment staring at your beautiful face.
Tell the neighbors, friends, acquaintances: BRING DINNER. If GA wasn’t so stinking far from MN, I would drop off a meal tomorrow.
Hi Alexa, I don’t know you but have been rooting for you & Simone all along, as I am a fellow Minnesotan. I have a two year old daughter and her middle name is Simone! Great name. So now on to baby advice. For us, a pack and play was really nice to have. It has a changing table built right into it and you could have it up in your living room. I am a fan of changing tables (some aren’t) Don’t buy a diaper genie, I’ve heard they’re a waste of time. Get some attachment so that you can pump hands free, I never had that and thought that it would be nice. Ask Simone’s pediatrician to make a referral for you for lactation consultant visits. This way you can be sure she’s getting what she needs and you’re doing it right. The breastfeeding store at United is great for any type of thing you may need related to breastfeeding. Don’t waste your time with bottle warmers, wipes warmers, sanitizers, etc. Warm soapy water is just fine for cleaning. And if you need to heat a bottle, you just submerge it in some warm water for a few minutes. It’s good to have a lot of receiving blankets. Hmmm. Our baby is going to be two and I’ve forgotten a lot about the newborn stage! She came home from the hospital weighing 4’13. Good luck to you guys! Feel free to email with ?s!
Jean
Congratulations! This is so exciting. I’ve never posted a comment, but my husband and I check your blog every day for updates :) I just brought home my baby 2 1/2 weeks ago, so I’m hardly an expert. However, my girl is a messy little breastfeeder (who gets randomly frustrated with my breasts and starts to scream at them), so I would recommend burp cloths to keep from getting milk all over everything. It’s sticky. My mom bought me several heavy cloth diapers and I’ve found that they are very good for that purpose. Good luck! Looking forward to more updates!
If you are using baby wipes, a wipe warmer is a must. Nothing offends a baby more than a cold wipe. Try a cold wipe on yourself, you might cry too!
Daisy
Yay!!!! Congratulations.
I’m nearing the one year mark with #3 and was just thinking the other day about the advice I’d give a new mom and what she needed and what she didn’t. As someone said above, don’t worry about a Diaper Genie/Champ. Diapers won’t even smell until you introduce solids, and even then placing them in a plastic grocery bag and tying it before tossing it in the trash works (if you are using disposable). Also, we didn’t use a changing table this time around because the old one was already serving as a dresser for #1. We just got a changing pad and placed it on the bed, table, or counter when we changed the baby. It was nice to be able to carry it around to suit our various needs. Finally, I heartily recommend the baby gown. Easy diaper changes, easy to get dressed… and so darn cute! Good luck!
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