https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 03 May 2026 23:08:14 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-newborn-gear-and-what-just-didnt-work/page/2#post-1774459 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 14:54:22 +0000 My Only Sunshine 1774459@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Meowkers: If you have a Once Upon a Child near you (or a similar childrens resale store) check them out for baby gear! Ours is really good about testing things out and looking them over so they look practically brand new. They have swings, exersaucers, and things like that, and I've also seen Ergos and moby wraps in ours. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-newborn-gear-and-what-just-didnt-work/page/2#post-1774446 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 14:48:30 +0000 looch 1774446@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Meowkers: haha, take it as a clue that you don't really need all this stuff to care for your LO. If you have it great, but if you don't, it is fine too. Get the basics, like your car seat if you use the car a lot and a decent stroller and you're more or less all set. Everything else, you can figure out when the baby actually gets here. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-newborn-gear-and-what-just-didnt-work/page/2#post-1774438 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 14:43:31 +0000 Beebug 1774438@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Both kids so far like the swing, but I stopped using it at 4m with #1, so we will see how long this one stays. I borrowed for first, bought plug in version if what we borrowed for $20. Can't see us not getting our money back!</p> <p>Both kids love the Beco (Gemini), when I am getting it on for DS, DD demands to go in at 21m, well worth it for us!</p> <p>All big things we borrowed or bought insanely cheap, it's really nice to have all the options and look forward to finding them a new home when we are done!</p> <p>Also good<br /> BOB Revolution CE. Wish we could go back and see how many km's I've put on it!</p> <p>Wish we didn't buy<br /> Go Pod! I had a friend that swore by it, and I think I used it once, reminds me I need to get it sold!</p> <p>We didn't ever have an RnP, any A and A blankets, boppy/nursing pillow, etc, and DS is already in a sleep sack, nice to not have to worry about any swaddle weaning. Will quit the sleep sack as early as we can, too, DS in DDs pink one, aw well! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-newborn-gear-and-what-just-didnt-work/page/2#post-1774414 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 14:27:35 +0000 LovelyPlum 1774414@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jump Rope: I'm in love with it, seriously!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-newborn-gear-and-what-just-didnt-work/page/2#post-1774397 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 14:10:32 +0000 Greentea 1774397@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I spent a lot on just a few things but loved them:</p> <p>Ergo with insert<br /> Stokke crib<br /> Naturpedic changing pad<br /> Naturpedic mattress<br /> Pure rest organic sheets<br /> Blessed nest nursing pillow - best.thing.ever.<br /> Bugaboo cameleon</p> <p>Snuggabunny swing! I didn't get this until she was a couple months old and it helped a lot!</p> <p>Next time I hope to get:</p> <p>Rocking chair!<br /> Woombie (kid could not be swaddled)<br /> Better carseat (we really disliked our snugride 22) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-newborn-gear-and-what-just-didnt-work/page/2#post-1774396 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 14:10:21 +0000 mrs.shinerbock 1774396@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Meowkers: I'd recommend borrowing everything you can, even if its just for a few weeks to try it out. (ETA-sorry to repeat, it takes forever to type on my phone :happy: )</p> <p>Loved - A&amp;A blankets, white noise app, baby tub with incline, Arms Reach cosleeper (though if we had not been given this, we would have bought a PnP with the bassinet option), City Mini GT</p> <p>OK - mamaroo (LO wasn't crazy about this, but would hang out in it some. I probably would not pay full price for this, but we received it as a hand-me-down.), baby carriers (LO HATED them when she was small, but is OK with them now)</p> <p>Not so much- pacifiers, any diapers except Pampers Swaddlers, NB sized clothes </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-newborn-gear-and-what-just-didnt-work/page/2#post-1774392 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 14:07:25 +0000 Meowkers 1774392@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lion: @rachiecakes: I wish I had people to borrow from but I don't. I don't have friends or family with kids. The only one that does has a sister who is due around the same time I am so the stuff is going to her sister I presume. My other friends are either childless for now or have babies that are still using all this stuff. I guess we'll have to wait and see what we get at our shower and then fill in what we think/hope we'll use. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-newborn-gear-and-what-just-didnt-work/page/2#post-1774382 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 14:00:35 +0000 rachiecakes 1774382@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Meowkers: borrow whatever big items you can! I wish I had. So much money spent on things he hated or we only used for such a short amount of time </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-newborn-gear-and-what-just-didnt-work#post-1774373 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 13:53:15 +0000 Adira 1774373@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Loved:<br /> - Snugabunny Swing<br /> - Boppy<br /> - A&amp;A Blankets<br /> - White Noise machine</p> <p>Didn't Love:<br /> - Any of the swaddleme or similar items - Xander hated being swaddled<br /> - Ear Thermometer - I could never get an accurate reading<br /> - Clothes other than sleepers, sleep and plays, rompers<br /> - Loveys - Xander didn't take to anything but his blankets </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-newborn-gear-and-what-just-didnt-work#post-1774357 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 13:45:16 +0000 Mrs. Lion 1774357@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Meowkers: Buy just the basics! Borrow big stuff if you can and then buy your own once you know what you need. Or buy big stuff used if you can. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-newborn-gear-and-what-just-didnt-work#post-1774354 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 13:44:05 +0000 Mrs. Lion 1774354@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wrote a post about the stuff I wished we hadn't bought...but most people didn't agree with me haha. Apparently we aren't normal. </p> <p>We loved our swing, stroller, diy moby, A&amp;A blankets, halo swaddle sleep sack, and those kimono t-shirts that snap in the front. </p> <p>We didn't use/like the bumbo, boppy, sleep n plays, miracle blanket, and probably some other things that I can't think of right now. And of a lot of things that we did like, mostly I just had like 3x as much of everything as we actually used. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-newborn-gear-and-what-just-didnt-work#post-1774328 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 13:30:13 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 1774328@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: we saw the rockaroo at BRU last week and Ahhh I want one!</p> <p>We are going to wait and see if baby likes the RNP. If she does, we will get the rockaroo. </p> <p>Loved: RnP, moby<br /> Hated: mamaroo -- so glad this was a random gift and not something we bought! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-newborn-gear-and-what-just-didnt-work#post-1774288 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 13:12:44 +0000 Meowkers 1774288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>subscribing to this thread. All these conflicting opinions make it so hard to know what to buy before the baby is born. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-newborn-gear-and-what-just-didnt-work#post-1774199 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 12:32:28 +0000 loveisstrange 1774199@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Worked:<br /> Snuggabunny swing and bouncer. Wouldnt have survived.<br /> Moby wrap, wearing her was a great way to keep her calm since she was colicky<br /> White noise. We're in the minority that likes our sleep sheep<br /> A+A blankets for a nice, tight swaddle</p> <p>Crap I wish I hadnt bought:<br /> Bumbo<br /> PnP. Useless, she hated it</p> <p>I hated the Ergo for her as a newborn, but liked it much better once she got older. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-newborn-gear-and-what-just-didnt-work#post-1774189 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 12:28:57 +0000 kes18 1774189@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Favorites:<br /> -bouncer (snugabunny is what we have)- could not live without it. Used it around the house, on the porch, garage, etc<br /> -miracle blanket (DD rolled around in the swaddlemes but this kept her arms at her sides)<br /> -baby white noise app<br /> -A&amp;A blankets (use for everything...except swaddling)<br /> -Bob revolution stroller (and car seat)- so far I love it. Use for everyday and jogging (I'm slow)</p> <p>OK:<br /> swing (snugabunny)- this was helpful only the first few months or so, but it was useful. Not sure it's worth full price, I'd buy used</p> <p>Not a fan:<br /> boppy- maybe because I'm tall? was pretty useless<br /> bumbo seat- got it out at 3 months and she was too big for it </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-newborn-gear-and-what-just-didnt-work#post-1774180 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 12:26:29 +0000 matador84 1774180@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't get much gear for either child...I had read too many stories about this worked, but this didn't, etc.<br /> Worked:<br /> Loved for both-bjorn bouncer! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!! </p> <p>We never had another swing or bouncer. This has been great for both kids! Never got a pack and play either.<br /> Ergo-got for DD, didn't own for DS. Wish I had one!</p> <p>Swaddles didn't really work for DS and I kind of forced it. I wasted so much on swaddlers and didn't even use any for dd. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-newborn-gear-and-what-just-didnt-work#post-1774155 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 12:19:52 +0000 My Only Sunshine 1774155@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The top thing that I had no idea I would love as much as I did was a bath sponge cushion from Babies R Us: <a href="http://www.toysrus.com/buy/bath-potty/babies-r-us-turtle-bath-sponge-cushion-1918071h12-12293405" rel="nofollow">http://www.toysrus.com/buy/bath-potty/babies-r-us-turtle-bath-sponge-cushion-1918071h12-12293405</a></p> <p>Honestly when I got this at my shower I didn't even understand what it was. But it's awesome for tiny babies! You get it wet with warm water and put it in the bottom of the tub, and then lay your LO down on it for bath time. Comfy for them and they stay nice and warm!</p> <p>The thing I just HAD to have and then hated was the miracle blanket. I could not get my little wiggle worm swaddled in that thing. Halo sleep sacks with the velcro worked much better for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-newborn-gear-and-what-just-didnt-work#post-1774130 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 12:08:34 +0000 Boheme 1774130@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What worked:<br /> *Ring sling<br /> *SwaddleMes<br /> *RNP</p> <p>What didn't work:<br /> *Sleep Sheep - WHY does it have a 45 min timer?!<br /> *Arms Reach co-sleeper - dumb.<br /> *Pee pee teepees - yeah right.<br /> *Snugabunny swing - illicited screaming<br /> *Bumbo - too fat! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-newborn-gear-and-what-just-didnt-work#post-1774087 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 11:42:28 +0000 fussygal 1774087@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Love:<br /> • RNP - The angle was SO crucial for DD with her spit up issues. Laying her flat after night feedings was a nightmare.<br /> • Activity mat - She is obsessed with swatting at the musical mobile. We use this a lot less the past month though (DD is 16 weeks).<br /> • Bath tub with sling/hammock attachment - Not sure I could bathe her alone without it.<br /> • SwaddleMe - DD startles herself awake without it. We tried a sleep sack last night to awful results!</p> <p>Didn't work:<br /> • PnP (travel size)- I didn't want to get it because I think they're hideous, but we needed a place for the baby to sleep in our room and the price was right. She didn't do well laying flat and outgrew it lengthwise by 10 weeks.<br /> • Boppy - I wanted to like this so much, but I'm tall and it didn't bring DD up high enough to be comfortable. Plus she always fell in the gap between me and the pillow. I did get a My Breast Friend around 10 weeks and while I liked it better, still wasn't impressed.<br /> • K'tan - another one I wanted to like but just didn't work for us. She likes her ring sling much better.<br /> • Sleep Sheep - Not sure if it helped but we use it to block noise more than anything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-newborn-gear-and-what-just-didnt-work#post-1773991 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 10:51:49 +0000 delight 1773991@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Loved our FP aquarium swing, but she never napped in it. She used it for months though and gave me time to clean up. Loved our activity mat, again used it for months. Other loves were our Quinny stroller with bassinet, A&amp;A blankets, Swaddleme swaddles. Our PNP has come in handy at grandma's house and the cottage.</p> <p>Items I wish I hadn't bought: bouncy chair (used it minimally) and Moby wrap. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-newborn-gear-and-what-just-didnt-work#post-1773966 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 10:41:36 +0000 Weagle 1773966@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We hated the swing and bouncer. I'm glad we borrowed them<br /> Instead of bought. The swing made her sick every time, and the bouncer just frustrated her. Especially when the toy bar was on. Loved the Boppy, activity gym, jumperoo, and Miracle blanket. </p> <p>We just bought a RnP because we have no other portable baby-holding devices :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-newborn-gear-and-what-just-didnt-work#post-1773950 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 10:36:50 +0000 LovelyPlum 1773950@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Little things I am glad we bought: and had on hand right away</p> <p>BooN lawn drying rack<br /> Baby thermometer<br /> V aby Vicks<br /> Hylands colic tabs<br /> Gas drops (!!!!!!!!!!!!!)<br /> Boppy-but I had the half moon one<br /> We went out and got a humidifier almost immediately<br /> An extra pack of pillows for me to prop me up while BFing<br /> Halo sleep sacks. We had cotton and fleece, even though she was born in April. We needed the fleece ones for a while! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-newborn-gear-and-what-just-didnt-work#post-1773929 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 10:32:09 +0000 ShootingStar 1773929@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Overrated (for us)<br /> -RNP. He never really took to it. We ended up using it for naps in the evening when he was 4+ months old, but anything (like bassinet, pnp, etc.) would've been fine.<br /> -Crib wedge. He never cared about being elevated and he would just slide down off of it.<br /> - PnP changing table. We thought this would be awesome to have in our living room and we HATED it. It killed our backs to use the changing table on the PnP. We ended up buying a regular changing table with a great Black Friday sale and it's been awesome.<br /> -Co-sleeper (the in-bed kind). DS wanted to be held ALL the time, which is why RnP was a no-go too. It just got in the way in our bed and he was unhappy at not being held anyways.<br /> -Snuza. I ended up needing to co-sleep with him because he wouldn't sleep otherwise, so I alway knew he was breathing. Anyone who wants one check the classifieds...</p> <p>Loved<br /> - His Walker (the kind they sit in). He LOVES being able to wander around the main floor. He hasn't started crawling yet and gets really frustrated that he can't. The walker gives him mobility, but keeps him safe and frustration-free.<br /> -Cloth Wipes. OMG soooo much better for newborn poops than disposable.</p> <p>Liked<br /> -Snugabunny swing. It wouldn't put him to sleep, but if he was already asleep we could put him in there. But at 4m he was trying to nosedive out of it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-newborn-gear-and-what-just-didnt-work#post-1773647 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 09:24:32 +0000 Mae 1773647@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nana87: agree on the boppy. I sort of hate mine. I'm plus sized and I could never keep it around me to breastfeed! I actually got a different (bigger/floppier) pillow from my lactation consultant that worked SO much better. Now that she's a little bigger I've tried laying her in the boppy occasionally but she slips down and seems sort of uncomfortable. she'd just rather be in her bouncer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-newborn-gear-and-what-just-didnt-work#post-1773630 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 09:19:55 +0000 nana87 1773630@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we never had an rnp. </p> <p>we have a mamaroo but she only likes it when she's already in a good mood, and never sleeps in it. I put her in when she's happy and it gives me a few minutes to eat, pump, make coffee, etc. we also have a bouncer that she only just started to like now that she's interested in toys and i can put her in it with one.</p> <p>we used the bassinet stroller attachment to our ub cruz a lot the first month to sleep inside and take walks, but she hated it after that. </p> <p>i don't know if the sleep sheep makes a difference, and it keeps running out of batteries. </p> <p>i like the ergo but hate the infant insert--it's SO hot! even inside in the a/c lo gets all hot and sweaty</p> <p>like the moby but it's a pain to put on, especially when lo is crying</p> <p>i have both the my brest friend pillow and boppy-- mbf is SO much better since lo is so small. bonus points that it's flat on top so easier to balance a plate for me so i can eat while she nurses/after she falls asleep nursing and i'm afraid to move/wake her ;) i think the boppy will be more useful eventually, but i wish i got the mbf earlier!</p> <p>halo sleep sacks are the best. we got a few off our pbk and giggle registries though and they're higher quality than the ones by halo directly off amazon (zipper doesn't work as well and she gets her arms out faster bc of the material), though those are like half the price. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-newborn-gear-and-what-just-didnt-work#post-1773623 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 09:17:15 +0000 Mae 1773623@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catlady: love our halo sleep sacks! Sort of love/hate though too. She sleeps so much better in the sleep sack-- especially for naps! But she also fights it and a lot of times overnight she busts out in awkward ways that seem uncomfortable. I sort of want to swaddle wean already (she's only 10 weeks) because I'm worried she's going to hurt herself trying to ninja her way out... but I'm also worried that it will destroy her current good sleeping habits if I do! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-newborn-gear-and-what-just-didnt-work#post-1773613 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 09:13:10 +0000 catlady 1773613@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Love/Hate:<br /> Swing and RnP - She wouldn't sleep on her back for months, so these saved us in the early days. But transitioning to the crib was hard.</p> <p>Mostly Love(d):<br /> City mini stroller (although I sometimes wish I had bought the GT), with and without carseat attachment<br /> Halo sleepsacks (the velcro swaddler kind)<br /> Play gym (only useful for a very short period of time though)</p> <p>Ok not not amazing:<br /> Our carseat (Britax b-safe) - It is fine, but she sweats in it.<br /> Pack n Play - We mostly use this to contain her for short periods of time, although she has slept in it on vacation.<br /> Ergo - It doesn't fit me well, so really only DH uses it. We sort of wish we bought one that allows LO to face front b/c she gets antsy in it.</p> <p>Disappointing:<br /> K'tan - Never felt right even though I had high hopes.<br /> Cloth diapers - These worked for us for the first 3 months, but then she started developing rashes (I think heat rashes).<br /> Grace slim spaces high chair - She hates to be strapped into it for some reason, plus you need to constantly wash the fabric part. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-newborn-gear-and-what-just-didnt-work#post-1773597 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 09:08:32 +0000 avivoca 1773597@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The best thing we got was our swing. It's a small travel swing since we have a small house, but H LOVES it. What hasn't worked for us: our Moses basket (she always startled herself awake), swaddles (girlfriend hates having her arms pinned down) and the bouncer (she flat out hated it). I didn't like my Boba wrap as much as I thought I would, but I love my Ergo. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-newborn-gear-and-what-just-didnt-work#post-1773587 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 09:04:01 +0000 gilmoregirl 1773587@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't get a swing because I wanted to limit the amount of stuff in our little apartment, but we were offered one secondhand and it has been a lifesaver. Except now I don't know how to get him out of it because he sleeps so well in there I just can't pull the plug and stick him in the crib.</p> <p>We both hate the Moby so that has been collecting dust. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-newborn-gear-and-what-just-didnt-work#post-1773558 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 08:55:30 +0000 LovelyPlum 1773558@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was so against the RnP until about 3 am one night when she was teeny. We were lent one, and I pulled it out in desperation. That thing was GOLD for little miss Mount Vesuvius. We put her in it because she seems more comfortable slightly inclined at night. We have always used her crib for naps, though.</p> <p>I was also opposed to the Moby and sleep sheep-well, not opposed, but just seemed maybe unnecessary when on a budget. We were loaned a Moby and gifted a travel sleep sheep. Both are awesome! I also thought loveys were ugly, but LO was given one and loves it. Oh, well, guess it is staying :)</p> <p>We love our rockaroo, our City Elite stroller, and our infantino play gym. We didn't buy much gear, and I'm glad for it. We didn't need much! </p>